Welcome to HeartSongs, our regularly scheduled (probably) look at songs and the people who write them. We spoke to Red Collier from Alaskan shoegazers A Thousand Hours about their new single ‘Violet’.

“One of my closest friends is pregnant, so I wrote her little girl a song. Sort of words of encouragement and advice; "Storm this world but don’t be like me, fucked up and demon ridden.

I produced and mixed this track myself so I went through over 13 mixes to get this right. What stands out the most though was putting up the mix on bandcamp fairly satisfied, only to loathe the vocal levels the next day. I made a mad rush to fix and replace.”

 Listen to 'Violet' on BandCamp

‘Violet’ Lyrics;

This is for you

Violet Dragon

Take to the skies

Open your eyes

I sing it for you

Sleeping dragon

Breaking on through

Open your eyes

Unfurl your wings little girl

Feel the sweet breeze little girl

And take flight

Yours by right

You will have dreams little girl

Just don’t be like me little girl

Take this world

It’s yours by right

Since signing a licensing deal with Union Square Music, The Undertones’ four original LPs, The Undertones, Hypnotised, The Positive Touch and The Sin Of Pride have been available in digital and physical form, all with additional tracks and videos. The band marked Record Store Day 2013 with a 7” vinyl only release, recorded in the famous Toe Rag studio in London. A return to their punk roots, ‘Much Too Late’ sold out the 1,000 copies before the day was out.

2016 marked the band’s 40th Anniversary. They celebrated with a variety of scorching live performances at festivals and venues throughout the UK and Europe. The reviews have been glowing and many critics and fans say the band are playing as well as or better than ever before.

2016 also saw vinyl remasters of first two LPs; along with a 7” vinyl remix of the 1979 single ‘Get Over You’ by Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine/Primal Scream). Michael Bradley also published his book Teenage Kicks: My Life As An Undertone. 2017 will see the band continue to play plenty of live shows including a UK and European tour and they will embark on their first ever tour of Australia and New Zealand

NOVEMBER UK TOUR DATES:

10 – Tramshed , Cardiff, Wales – Tickets

11 – Parr Hall, Warrington, England – Tickets

18 – Roadmender, Northampton, England – Tickets

23 – Plug, Sheffield, England – Tickets

24 – University, Leeds, England- Tickets