Brighton duo Inky Nite have re-introduced themselves as indie-pop's best kept secret, with their latest single 'The Canyon' pricking up the ears of fans and industry alike. As one of Spotify's Fresh Finds for their indie craft, the pairing bring 80s vibes with modern flair.
Speaking of their new release, the band revealed:
“This is the last in the trilogy of singles we recorded in our seaside flat during the first pandemic lockdown. The song came together very quickly during that time, starting as a punchy little guitar chord progression and Flick’s choppy vocal melody, which then evolved into a peppy art-pop tune that we wanted to have a Martha and the Muffins ‘Echo Beach’ vibe. In contrast to the sugary hooks and New Wave nostalgia, the lyrics are about the canyon of division in the UK. We were reading the tug-of-war of opinions online and the words poured out in response, as we tried to make sense of how we arrived at this point. The song spotlights everything from the rise of xenophobia and the relentless migrant-bashing of certain newspapers and politicians to online misinformation and social media echo chambers.”
The husband-wife duo are newcomers to the scene, and they are already making their mark. In the midst of the first national lockdown, as the days bled into one, Inky Nite began concocting their sound from their seaside home. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Angus & Julia Stone, The xx and Oh Wonder, their sonic backdrop is a cool cocktail shaker of other influences, mixing a measure of Metronomy and a splash of Santigold with a twist of Twin Shadow and a dash of the Drive soundtrack, before topping up with Blood Orange.
They released two singles in 2020, ‘Bad Machines’ and ‘Spectres’, which were well-received by online blogs and BBC Music Introducing, as well as gaining support from Steve Lamacq on BBC Radio 6 Music. Juxtaposing deep, dark and dreamy lyrics with effervescent New Wave-inspired hooks, their sound combines the evocative mystery of Roland Juno synths, Mellotron choirs and ethereal Omnichord with angular 12-string guitar, shimmering bass and vintage drum samples. ‘The Canyon’ is another indication of Inky Nite’s unbounded potential, and we can expect big things from this duo in the future.