Utah outfit Strange Familia plays with the dichotomy of a sweet-yet-sticky romance in the fittingly titled new single honey.
Strange Familia has today (February 24) released honey, a groovy ode to both the beauty and complication of love. The single marks the official end of Strange Familia’s years-long hiatus, signalling a triumphant return for the Salt Lake City quintet complete with twinkling piano melodies and a message of a romance equal parts heartwarming and “inconvenient,” lead singer Garret Williams said in a press statement.
“I tried thinking of a better name for this song. I really did. But this song just feels like honey to me.” Just like its namesake nectar, honey flits between saccharine lyrics admiring a muse named Brenda to the sticky distractions of “socialites [and] cameras” — all condensed by Williams’ syrupy vocals and a groove-laden looped guitar chord. According to Strange Familia bandmate Brecken Jones, this dichotomy of love is reflected in the song’s origins and production process.
“The song has a confident vibe,” co-songwriter and producer Brecken Jones said, “but when I started working on it I was feeling very defeated… I was starting to feel like I’d lost my chance to live a creative life. So it was more reflective of what I wanted, not what I actually had.” The defeatism somewhat subsides towards the latter end of honey, as William sings of an inevitable relent to being “deep in this together” and “happily feeling this forever.”
honey is partly the result of a workshop session with producer Emile Haynie, who has elsewhere collaborated with the likes of Lana Del Rey and Foals. The track launches what will be the forthcoming arrival of a sophomore studio album, following the release of Strange Familia’s self-titled debut in 2017. The quintet also has plans for a 2023 tour, and last month shared their cover of Garth Brooks’ Friends in Low Places on streaming services.
Get caught up in the blissful yet “sticky, inconvenient mess” Strange Familia’s honey below, and keep an eye out for future releases from the Salt Lake City outfit due out this year.
