Announcing his second EP, Bodies Of Water (out physically and digitally 16th April 2021) with new single “Altitude” on 18th March, Saint Jude also teases that his debut album is on the horizon. Alongside this EP, it marks the beginning of a partnership between his long-term UK label and collective Slow Dance Records and US label tmwrk (Grady, Molly Payton, Herizen, Onyx Collective).
“Altitude” came from a place of solitude and seems somewhat fitting to be released during these current times of widespread isolation. Referencing days ‘spent inside’ and being tormented by a ‘violent moon’ evoke how many of us experience day-to-day life in lockdown, despite being written a few years ago. Jude reminisces on the time of writing that ‘a lot of my friends had left London, I had come out of a relationship and it seemed like I had lost a bit of the sense of community that I had for the few years before that’.
With this track using the lyrical image of a tidal wave and sound effects, there is a liquidity to the entire EP. At times calm and mellow, it builds up to clashing crescendos and spans various emotional ranges. There is the sense of being on the edge, with “Keep The Light Inside the House” also talking about ‘drowning’ and previous collaborative single with fellow Slow Dance member Glows, the track “Molina” a tribute to the late Songs: Ohia frontman, who died victim to alcoholism.
lyrics
People of my life scattered far and wide
We stayed behind
Days and nights shady eyes wavy lights
Just saving time
Spent days inside hazy sky fading light
Away we slide
The way we lie, shaded by the wavy sky
Misbehave to reignite
Maybe i’ll say goodnight
You say ‘alright at least we tried’
The daily grind
So confused for you
I was not light blue like you
Two separate eyes
In a tight cocoon
Wrestling skies in a violent mood
Don’t jeopardise
My silent move
Failing that i’ll fight for you
A tidal wave
Our final day
Say it straight we’ll slide away
We’ll reignite
We’ll find our way
Holding out all that time for the wrong line
Holding out all that time for the wrong line
Holding out all that time for the wrong line
Holding out all that time for the wrong line
It’s a tidal wave
It’s a tidal wave
It’s a fine hate
Thoughts will change
But the action is the same
Yeah the action is the same
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