Sometimes, treasured new songs come from unexpected places. The Detroit pop-punk band Fireworks went on hiatus last May, but two of its members have resurfaced in a new group with a new vocalist and a completely different sound. But then again, it’s a sound that’s near and dear to their city’s long musical tradition.
Meet Empty Houses – ex-Fireworkers Adam Mercer and David Mackinder, plus frontwoman Ali Shea and her majestic singing voice. Their debut album Daydream is out next month, and we’re excited to premiere its irresistible title track – a savvy statement in the language of Motown and Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” production – and all the swooning, piano-laced hooks and castanet clicks that come with it.
“‘Daydream’ is the first song we wrote together,” the band tells Billboard. “With it, we feel like we solidified what this band should be. This song feels like our benchmark.”
Click HERE to stream “Daydream”
It’s definitely a good place to start on the forthcoming full length, which drops June 10 on Sargent House, along with a tour with indie rockers Good Old War. Daydream was produced by four-time Grammy-winner Graham Marsh, who’s engineered big timers like Cee Lo Green’s “F-ck You” and Bruno Mars’ Doo-Wops & Hooligans.
“A daydream can be an escape from reality to a world more pleasant, or it can simply be a distraction from your real life that ends up hurting you… There’s probably a good argument to be had for both sides, and the songs on this album could potentially argue either one. Ultimately, life is what you make of your experiences, and hopefully people can reflect on their own experiences through these songs and have fun with this album.”