Live Review: PREMIERE: IV League get intimately tender on 'Lose Me'

29 October 2018 | 10:11 am | Caitlin Medcalf

We've said before that we think that "IV LEAGUE are making some of the most exciting indie-pop in the country at the moment" and we'll damn well say it again!

After dazzling the crowds at their BIGSOUND appearance, wrapping up a national tour supporting City Calm Down and selling out all of their headline shows in support of one of their singles 'Superstar', IV League's journey so far has been exponential.

The Melbourne band are set to put out their debut EP early next year - and we're premiering the first taste of it here on PS today.

'Lose Me' is the title of this dazzling slice of garage-pop. Harkening back to an era where bands like Hole and No Doubt were flipping the script and changing the way garage as a whole was not only being perceived, but also being created, you can really hear the history in IV League's sound, and that's something to really be respected.

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This particular single is the perfect blend of garage and pop - there's those fuzzed out melodic lines punched in by guitarist Lachie Gilmour, but then simultaneously, there's these beautiful tender moments delivered by vocalist Bella Venutti. The track really does showcase the best of the two musicians and in saying that, this track really is a defining moment for the band.

It's the first time in an IV League track that Bella's vocals have been mastered clean and at the same time, they've pushed themselves to really put those vocals to the fore. It marks a new era of sound for the group, but one that I'm really excited to hear them pursue.

It's heartbreaking in the most relatable sort of way. Bella gave us a little bit of insight into her understanding and intentions behind the lyricism:

"The lyrics of this song came to me as I toyed with its melancholic opening riff that I had been working on for a while. The result was a self-reflection of sorts, assessing my feelings at a pretty dark and confusing time in my life in which I was feeling really scared and anxious about the transition from adolescence into early adulthood."

In this time I could feel that I was really difficult to be around, and that my fear of lacking direction and control, as well as my longing to return to past versions of my life and self was sending me into a downward spiral. The song was a plea both to my self and those around me to not give up and stick it out as I worked to break though this mental block and feel stronger."

Keep an ear out for IV League's debut EP, out early 2019.

Image: SUPPLIED

Words by CAITLIN MEDCALF

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