Gang Of Youths | ‘in the wake of your leave’

It’s the first week of 2022 and we are already crushing hard on Gang Of Youths’ new track ‘in the wake of your leave’ from their upcoming new album angel in realtime out today.

Following the loss of his father, ‘in the wake of your leave’ focuses on a very specific aspect of the experience. Overwhelmed, Le’aupepe uses songwriting as an eloquent and poignant outlet for his grief. Yet while you would expect the creative experience to provide a cathartic release, instead he feels constricted by repeatedly gravitating to the same topic.

In contrast to its introspective lyrics, sonically ‘in the wake of your leave’ couldn’t feel more uplifting. Gang Of Youths convert sorrow into a song that burns with life-affirming, whole-hearted passion – from its exuberant rush to its bright, colossal melodies and its addictive, radio-friendly hook. And in one of the band’s most striking hallmarks, it still shimmers with a remarkable attention to detail: the elegiac backing harmonies of the Auckland Gospel Choir; the percussion provided by a collective of drummers from the Cook Islands; and Tom Hobden’s stirring string arrangements.

Dave Le’aupepe says, “I wanted to reflect on how I became dependent on grief for solace and inspiration. The cycle from numbness to acceptance to yearning plays a role in my approach to grieving my dad’s death. As a result, most of the time, I feel a bit futile as a person.”

2021 brought a lot of success to Gang Of Youths as they’ve made their comeback with an elevated sound; showing everyone they’ve still got it. ‘in the wake of your leave’ is another instalment that shows us the extent of their talent and depth that’s gotten them this far.