Southampton quartet The Dead Freights refuse to adhere to a regular pop structure as the newcomers release their new single ‘Sufferin’ Safari’.
The band’s 70s style fuzz on the guitars steers their musical direction forward as grungy snarls and punk infused drumming makes The Dead Freights something perfectly unique.
Comprising of lead vocalist and guitarist Charlie James, guitar and backing vocalist: Robert Franklin, Bassist Dan Kelly and drummer, Louis Duarte, the band head in a new direction on this round, taking a slightly moodier detour than their previous two outings.
Taking a devilish twist on The Beach Boys’ ‘Surfin’ Safari’, with borderline doo-wop backing vocals, ‘Sufferin’ Safari’ is a combination of the eras whilst reeking of originality.
As a sucker for a bad pun (especially a Beach Boys one), frontman Charlie James states that the title is part of the song’s gimmick and charm.
With the textural backing vocals over-dubbed in guitarist Rob Franklin’s bedroom over “coupl’a gins”, Charlie states. “The first time I sung the lyric ‘All my bad dreams make sense, but the wet ones don’t’” to friends, they laughed.
“Although, in reality there’s probably a sad truth to it. I’ve always liked it when the lyrics carry a sense of comic tragedy.”
Drummer Louis Duarte adds: “Sufferin’ Safari is one of those songs we didn’t really understand properly until we’d played in front of people a few times.
“Sometimes your tune only clicks after it’s been soaked in bar juice.”
‘Sufferin’ Safari’ was recorded at Sunrise Studios with Marc Burford and Undy Hunt (Echotape) with mixing duties taken up by Josh Ager (Beabadoobee).
