As Newcastle’s RAAVE TAPES geared up for the release of their debut album last Friday, May 24th, they teased fans with one final single: the bass-heavy anthem ‘Braces’.
‘Braces’ is a showcase of massive hooks, a deep, hypnotic bassline, and some seriously slick production from RAAVE TAPES’ Fletcher Matthews. Positioned as the album’s opener, the song sets the tone of the album with energy that promises an unforgettable ride.
Thematically, ‘Braces’ explores the essence of friendship and the liberation of being true self around your closest friends. As Lindsay of RAAVE TAPES describes, this song feels like that the scene in Thelma and Louise, “when they look at each other before they drive off the cliff (sorry for the spoiler),” Lindsay says, “there’s that moment of solidarity between them. Maybe the title is an allusion to needing to be ‘braced up’ by your mates. Maybe it’s an allusion to crooked teeth and the ugly smiles you share with those close to you when you think no one is looking.”
In crafting ‘Braces’, Joab and Lindsay, alongside producer Fletcher, drew inspiration from the past, tapping into the raw, impactful vibe of early dance and electronic music. Joab of RAAVE TAPES explains that they indulged themselves with the production, tapping into some Ministry of Sound x French Electronica nostalgia.
“Harking back to a simpler time, when 80% of dance music was simply a few words that barely made sense followed by a dirty drop,” Joab continues.
The debut, self-titled album from RAAVE TAPES offers a sonic journey across 12 tracks of pure pop anthems. From club-ready anthems like ‘k hi’, and ‘Goodbye’, to pop gems like ‘I Just Wanna Be Alone’ and ‘Wake Up Next To You’, the album is a showcase of emotional and sonic themes. In fact, the central theme of the album explores the complexity of relationships and the fluidity of human connections over time.
Joab encapsulates the album’s core, stating that the most integral themes of the album revolve around the interpersonal relationships people have, “to the nearest and dearest, as well as those who’ve become distant and not so dear.”
“It’s a pretty broad and universal overarching theme for sure, but it’s one that heavily impacted our writing process.” — Joab from Raave Tapes
“At its core, we were a few good friends locked in a room with no phone reception for long periods of time, and that encouraged plenty of D&Ms, late-night soul-searching, and a level of introspection that pushed us in a more earnest and personal direction,” Joab adds.
