If there’s one thing to know about Ax and The Hatchetmen, it’s that the indie rockers are looking for a good time. They also want you to have a good time. Their infectious spirit, organic chemistry, and effervescent sound make for dynamic stage shows and memorable musical releases, whether they are performing at Lollapalooza or dropping projects like 2020’s Bear on the Roof. The last few years have definitely been very good to the band, consisting of sold-out headline tours, a signing to Arista Records, and streaming numbers in the millions. This year, fans will get to see lead singer and guitarist Axel Ellis in Amazon’s upcoming series The Runarounds and will also be treated to a brand new EP. For now, Ax and The Hatchetmen give them “Blurry Lights.”
“Blurry Lights” has all of the makings of a classic Ax and The Hatchetmen song, with the added flair of The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. on guitar. From its singable melodies and mild mannered vocals to its infectious grooves and persistent desire, “Blurry Lights” is a stunner. Lyrically, the track has a push and pull to it, where we feel so but so distant at the same time. Meanwhile, Axel sings, “My brain, so fried / See you in the next life / One more song / Calm me down / Lift me up / Wash me out,” feeling blurry about his whole situation.
Telling us more about “Blurry Lights,” Axel shares,
“‘Blurry Lights’ is a dizzy song about trying to maintain composure while freaking out on psychedelics. It’s mostly about the time I took mushrooms before going to the Van Gogh exhibit in Chicago—an experience I would not recommend, as the room was way too brightly lit to not notice and feel the presence of the hundred-or-so other people at the exhibit who, at the time, I was certain were all staring at me and knew I was on drugs. On top of that, the walls were swirling around with Starry Night and Van Gogh’s various works, creating the perfect mix of dizziness, nausea, and overstimulation while coming up on shrooms. The lights were blurry as hell, and I wanted to go home.
“The Strokes have always been at the top of our list of musical influences, so for [Hammond Jr] to track on one of our songs was a total dream scenario. The vinyl record sleeve of Is This It that’s been hanging in my living room since I was nineteen couldn’t believe it either.”
Albert Hammond Jr also explains,
“Jake Sinclair, Ax’s producer, is a friend and he played me the track to see if I wanted to play some guitar on it. It’s catchy and fun, so I was happy to jump in and add some parts and tones. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.”
You can listen to “Blurry Lights (with Albert Hammond Jr)” here.
Catch Ax and the Hatchetmen on tour this summer with Fitz and the Tantrums here.
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