The Elephant Trees - 'Meaning Of Lyf'
The Manchester-based, The Elephant Trees, are back once again with a groovy new release titled ‘Meaning Of Lyf’.
Their new release graciously follows their previous singles ‘Ones and Zeros’ and ‘Sorry’. ‘Meaning Of Lyf’ certainly shares the same euphoric and hypnotic aura, something that The Elephant Trees have curated perfectly. Not only is the music that the three-piece release exceptionally mesmerising, but it is also blatantly honest and relatable, and their newest release bears no exception to this. The band are masters at poetically speaking their truth.
Frontwoman Martha Philips’ vocals are uncanny to the likes of Hayley Williams and hold such intense power. Martha’s vocals detail the struggles and the isolation that taking your own path can create. The Elephant Trees themselves have titled the track “a nihilist groove”, which is a way to perfectly sum up the release. The instrumentals are energetic and are the antonym of being jaded. The Elephant Trees are wizards in their own right at creating addictive hooks and melodies.
Speaking on the track, Martha divulges that “In rejecting the traditional habitus, which a lot of us do in our early twenties, there opens up a void that had once been filled with whatever our parents had raised us on. It can be a really exciting, yet daunting, experience to step outside these constructs and realise your path is your own. The meaning of life is not to be liked, it’s not to conform, its not to be quiet and small. Really, you could argue that there is no meaning to life.
It sounds depressing at first, but I think once we’ve crossed that line and shed off traditions and expectations, it’s a really positive and important realisation that gives us the opportunity to forge a better future. One without ancient prejudices, patriarchy, homophobia, racism, ableism, and all. The meaning of life is up to us.”
With an EP coming this June and support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, Radio X and BBC Introducing, The Elephant Trees show no signs of slowing down.
Words by Sophie Bourgeois
