Children of the State have released their new single ‘Big Sur’.
The new track from the five-piece was produced by The Coral’s Ian Skelly and engineered by Chris Taylor at Liverpool’s Parr Street Studios.
Speaking of the single, the band said: “’Big Sur’ was born out of a lot of grey days on an industrial estate in Doncaster wanting to be at the beach. We were listening to a lot of Dick Dale and Beach Boys at the time and wanted to capture that 60s surf sound but bring it into 2020., but struggled to capture the vibe in Sheffield. We figured we’d get closer to the coast, so got in touch with Ian Skelly from The Coral, and spent a few days there creating it.”
To celebrate the single release, we caught up with the band to discover 5 tracks that influenced ‘Big Sur’.
The Beach Boys – Hang On To Your Ego | Listen via Spotify
As soon as we set out to make this band in 2018, we wanted a ‘Pet Sounds’ feel to the music; free-flowing and unpredictable but also infantile and simple. This song which got cut up and changed into ‘I Know There’s An Answer’ that ended up on that album is a homage to the feeling of going above and beyond. Long live Brian Wilson!
Dua Lipa – Don’t Start Now | Listen via Spotify
The way the chorus of this song sort of drops and falls out of phase, only to get sucked back in. We really liked the idea of a drop chorus and a lift in the verses, like the song is looking at itself through a mirror.
Love – Everybody’s Gotta Live | Listen via Spotify
Arthur Lee’s lyrics are always hyper-observational and happily optimistic, we wanted to capture Arthur Lee’s gleeful cynicism in the lyrics of this song and we think the opening line nails it.
Edwyn Collins – A Girl Like You | Listen via Spotify
The fuzz on this record is unholy, we needed to give the song a metaphorical kick up the arse so Ian (the producer) suggested we put some mad vibrato fuzz on the end of the verse.
The Coral – Liezah | Listen via Spotify
The Coral influence on this album is hard to deny! Was an honour to work with a band that has influenced us from day one!
You can listen to Children of the State ‘Big Sur’ via Spotify below: