London-based songwriter/producer Richard Jahn has unveiled his debut single, ‘Paint It’, along with an accompanying video shot at Tooting’s Grade I listed Gala Bingo Hall. With the likes of Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and The Bee Gees having graced the grand venue over the years, ‘Paint It’ brings a very modern sound to the art deco surroundings. Collaborating with friends in the From Concentrate collective (Count Counsellor, LVNA, Gud Jon) to expand his first release into the visual realm, Richard has a clear vision of how he wants his music to look and won’t settle for anything less than different.

‘Paint It’ marks the first outing as Richard Jahn but also a new approach to composition, relying on a lyric-less vocal to drive the track forward without placing any lifeless ornaments into the mix just to keep up appearances. Speaking of how ‘Paint It’ came to be, Richard explains that the song was ‘an anomaly in the way I tend to create music. Normally it’s more maximalist in approach, filling every inch of space.’ Opening with a hauntingly playful vocal hook, the soundscape may be ruthlessly minimal but with waves of reverb-soaked synthesisers washing over the brooding soundscape, the sheer force of the track is further cemented by its pulsating beat.

Richard eventually gained permission to shoot the video (directed by Milo Hutchings and James Rushton) at Tooting’s extravagant bingo hall after three months of negotiations. With only an allotted three hours to film very early on a Sunday morning, he called on none-other than his 90-year-old grandmother, an actress/dancer in the 1930s, for a starring role. The video is greatly focused on binary opposites, juxtaposing the lyrics, ‘Paint it in black’ with garishly lit slot machines, youth with old age and decadence with minimalism. A very purposeful clash of visuals and sound, it’s a refreshingly bold display for Richard’s debut release.

Multi-platinum artists, Awolnation, have announced the release of their third studio album, Here Come The Runts, on February 2. Serving as a follow up to the platinum-certified debut album Megalithic Symphony, and 2015’s Run, which included US No. 1 hit ‘Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf)’ as well as Top 5 tracks ‘I Am’ and ‘Woman Woman’, Awolnation’s third undertaking sees Aaron Bruno once again at the helm producing, writing and recording. “With this record I really wanted to make a rock n’ roll/pop album.” says Bruno. “And I say ‘pop’ how I grew up listening to it, in the sense of Dire Straits or ‘Born In The U.S.A’ or The Cars or Tom Petty.”

Bruno spent 2016 crafting the album in his home studio nestled in the coastal mountain range separating the Pacific Ocean and the suburbs of Los Angeles where he grew up. The secluded location is reflected throughout the album. “The record definitely has a feel to it that seems parallel to the vibe of this mountain and the land,” Bruno notes. “It’s like a non-GMO record. There’s no fake shit on there, none of the vocals are tuned. It’s all real playing.”

In support of Here Come The Runts, Awolnation will be embarking on a North American headlining tour with support from Nothing But Thieves on February 11 in Toronto. They will then be crossing the pond for a European/UK run throughout the month of April.  Tickets go on sale on Friday.

Track List;

Here Come The Runts

Passion

Sound Witness System

Miracle Man

Handyman

Jealous Buffoon

Seven Sticks of Dynamite

A Little Luck…And A Couple of Dogs

Table For One

My Molasses

Cannonball

Tall, Tall Tale

The Buffoon

Stop That Train

Awolnation On Tour

21/4 London UK @ Scala

25/4 Dublin Ireland @ Academy