Recommended Tracks: “Hurts To Be Lonely,” “We’re Never Getting Out,” “Tracing Lines”
Artists You Might Like: Nothing But Thieves, 5 Seconds of Summer, Boys Like Girls
If someone offered you a detailed life plan, would you accept it? Let’s say that it explains all of your biggest achievements and how you got there, all of your downfalls and how to recover from them, and all of the unexpected phenomena that goes on in between. Would you want to know or would you want to take life as it comes? It’s a tricky decision, one that might take a while to make. But as you decide, you can listen to We’re Never Getting Out, the latest album from Deaf Havana. Throughout the album, the British alt-rock band sort through complex emotions and the strains of adulthood, crafting a thought-provoking project about the twists and turns of life. In the end, life doesn’t need to unfold in a certain way for it to have meaning…
It’s tough to find meaning when you reach your limits, and this is a concept that Deaf Havana bring to light on the album. On the opening track “Life in Forward Motion,” we hear about how that forward motion can slow down and even come to a halt. It’s easy to give into self-destructive tendencies or the demons in your head, but all of that doesn’t need to deter your journey. As we hear lyrics like, “It’s hard to see the light when you’re face down on the floor,” the hopeful undertones of the guitar and drums take over, giving the track an anthemic, forward-moving spirit. Elsewhere, “Carousel” and the title track are more defeated, elaborating on the nihilistic tendencies of depression and anxiety. Over the lush, drum-driven grooves on “Carousel,” lead vocalist James Veck-Gilodi sings, “Just sinking like I’m set on drowning / Further into the swell / Forever stuck on this carousel / Spinning deeper into myself,” hinting that just one bad thought is all it takes for things to snowball out of control. Meanwhile, on “We’re Never Getting Out,” that feeling becomes overwhelming. It is scary to not have any control over your feelings or attitude, and this message is emphasized with the spooky-sounding riffs and melodies that decorate the track.
In today’s world, it is too easy to compare yourself to others, as everyone can document their lives online. While it’s cool to see engagements or job promotions or baby announcements, there’s also a notion that your life has to be full of ups in order for it to be worthy of sharing, worthy of living. On “Lawn Tennis,” for instance, Deaf Havana observe the “mature” choices their friends are making. All the while, there’s a question of, “Will I ever understand / Why I’m losing all my friends / To a perfect lawn, like there’s nothing more to life?” as the act of achieving traditional adult milestones seems as unappealing as ever. But even if it’s not exciting, it’s expected, and that thought is hard to shake on “Tracing Lines.” Sometimes, the life you plan for isn’t the one you get, and it can be hard to face. This vibe is established at the beginning of the track with “I’m here again / Back in the house that I grew up in, I guess that nothing’s changed / And I didn’t learn anything / I’m feeling ashamed.” Still, a bit of optimism comes through in lines like, “I’m almost 35, divorced, but it’s kind of comforting / That I don’t own anything.” While there is a bit of melancholy to the track, the energy doesn’t dip, and the golden, sentimental vibes of the guitar and piano ease the frustrations of this situation.
Of course, you can’t navigate life without navigating relationships. When relationships end, the loss is very palpable. Tracks like “Car Crash” and “Hurts To Be Lonely” express how the loss can obfuscate the future, or make it seem as if there is no future at all. We hear lines like, “Future looks dark and now I know it’s hard to accept / But we’re two fish in the same sea, swimming in different directions” on the former and “If I lose everyone that I love, would it be enough to make things up in your eyes? / ‘Cause I don’t know how to survive this,” on the latter, coming to terms with the space that now exists. But even with the emptiness that creeps in, there can be overwhelming moments of love. There might still be a sense of loyalty to that person that lingers, as we hear on “Dog,” which makes the ending that much harder to process. It plays out like an edgy, alt-rock love song, with devotional lines like, “Wherever you go, baby, I wanna go.” In the end, however, it is best to move on with grace. On the closing track “I’ll Be Around,” a promise to always show up is made. With a ballad-like nuance, James sings, “Tell me if you feel like dying / Please don’t keep those thoughts all to yourself,” suggesting that he can still be this person’s go-to. He knows that “we live and we learn and we move on anyway,” but admits, “If you need me, then I’ll be around,” not wanting to fully close the door. It’s a hopeful end to the album, as the struggles presented on previous tracks are pushed aside to reveal an inner strength and desire to be there for someone else.
On social media, the band explained, “…we genuinely believe this is our best Deaf Havana record ever and have poured everything we have into making it.” When you listen to We’re Never Getting Out, you can tell that this is true. The playfulness, the experimentation, the heart at the center of the lyrics—it’s all there, and it all makes sense for the band. This is an album that could only achieve through time and experience, along with a compelling drive to bring these tracks to fruition. You feel as if nothing was left unsaid, no musical thought left unfinished. Overall, Deaf Havana have found a way out, and they want others to remember that you can always find a way out of whatever is holding you down or holding you back. You can find your purpose when you learn from the past and remain open to the future.
You can listen to We’re Never Getting Out here.
Catch Deaf Havana on their current UK tour here.
Keep up with Deaf Havana: Instagram // X // Facebook // TikTok // YouTube // Website
