American songwriter Hamilton Leithauser has shared new single ‘This Side Of The Island’.
Out now, the track continues his solo journey, and follows on from the enormous good-will generated by the Walkmen’s reunion tour in 2023.
Returning to his solo guise, Hamilton Leithauser aims for a state-of-the-nation address, digging – almost literally – into the dirt of New York City.
As ever, his probing, astute lyricism is backed to a superb use of melody, with the powerful vocal yearning towards broader truths.
Hamilton Leithauser comments…
‘This Side Of The Island’ is a song about disillusionment, acceptance, and resolve. The foundation of the far lower east side of Manhattan where I used to live was actually constructed out of garbage from the 1600’s all the way up to the 1970s – a decent metaphor for the fundamentally-flawed relationship I was in when I lived there; and more broadly, for the modern collective identity of the United States. In the last decade, I think our country has more publicly and flagrantly revealed its true colours – an ugly side that was always there, but has now transformed our mainstream character. But there are still great people, great ideas, and great accomplishments all around us, and it is important not to lose sight of that.
Sometimes when I see what I consider to be things barrelling in the wrong direction, I feel totally helpless. But I am an optimist, and while I might not have any grand solutions (yet!), no matter what happens, as long as I’m breathing, I can still sing ‘I just want you to love me the way I love you.’ I don’t know if that’s a lot or a little, but I do know it’s true.
Tune in now.
Catch Hamilton Leithauser on February 17th at EartH in London.
