Para Alta - 'Blue Collared Mind'

Para Alta speak of big ambitions and show serious promise with their latest single, ‘Blue Collared Mind’.

Another rising star from the North East scene, this Hartlepool band, now based in London look to take 2019 by storm with their atmospheric indie rock styling. 2019 has already been a big year so far for the four-piece, headlining the This Feeling tour up and down the country, a headline slot in Paris with another tour on the way in March, as well as announcing semi-homecomings at Stockton Calling and Newcastle’s Hit The North.

‘Blue Collared Mind’ is certainly a shift in a new direction in terms of sound from previous releases like ‘Turn the Lights Out’ and personal favourite ‘Dusk’. We are introduced with a cosmic, futuristic opening before Sonny Williamson’s excellent bass line kicks in.

Their hometown is a frequent inspiration point for the band’s lyrics, and lead vocalist Jonny Bee takes it to another level as he talks about the struggle of shaking the working-class mindset that’s placed on people from a young age, with another catchy chorus to boot.

“On the boats or moving coal, the only tickets to surviving” resonates as Bee opens up about the risks that need to be taken to escape from the mould and encourages people to follow the ambition within themselves.  

Being from Hartlepool myself, this song hits close to home, as I am sure it will with many others who have bigger ambitions than the location they find themselves in. ‘Blue Collared Mind’ certainly puts Para Alta on a trajectory to success, way beyond their seaside town roots.

‘Blue Collared Mind’ is available now on all major streaming platforms.

Words by Danial Kennedy

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