Grian Chatten (Fontaines D.C.) has shared ‘The Score’, his mellow and contemplative debut solo single. The track is joined by a high contrast and borderline hallucinatory video directed by Georgie Jesson.
With the wind of Fontaines D.C.’s acclaimed third album under his wings, Grian Chatten’s solo endeavours could have mirrored the familiar sounds of Skinty Fia, however, ‘The Score’ has instead arrived as a subdued ode.
Chatten shared: “I wrote it in Madrid between an electric fan and a dying plant and I intend to keep it there”; ‘The Score’ seemingly captures a moment of disenchantment with no pressure to uncover a solution. Considering Fonatines D.C.’s recent venture as a feature on ‘The Endless Coloured Ways: The Songs Of Nick Drake’ — an anthology of Nick Drake Covers — it’s reasonable to consider the influence of Drake’s signature stripped-back sound and meditative lyricism, as well as echoes of the likes of Elliot Smith and The Microphones.
Produced by himself and regular collaborator Dan Carey, ‘The Score’ is underpinned by pattering fingerpicking and a textured, electronic backbeat. Pensive yet strong in assuredness, the debut is a refreshing deviation for Chatten, and with his vocal at the centre, showcases his capabilities in a new context – at the other end of the genre spectrum.
Photo by Eimear Lynch
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