D. Cullen is starting off 2022 with this mission statement. Bouncing along on a massive bassline and exploding with electronic bubbles, “Radio” is a big, bold pop song with a huge hook and lyrics to suit.
“The lyrics to Radio speak to the huge distress I felt in 2021,” D. explains “As with most of us, I was locked down, isolated from friends and family, and without any outlets or release from all of the world’s stress. The one thing that kept me going was being able to dive into my record collection, dive into great music, and dive into the radio. Music is the most invaluable method of escape, and this song is a tribute to that.”
The song was recorded with a crack team - D. hunkered down in the studio with Conor McLoughlin (Sick Love) engineering and Roger Bechirian (Bell X1/Elvis Costello/Bell X1) mixing. D. laid down all of the instruments in a day (bar a drum sample from the wonderful Binzer Brennan which opens the song), before making use of the exceptional talents of Conor’s Rebecca Geary (Conor’s bandmate) and Sinead McConville for the glorious 3-part harmony that lynchpins the chorus.
“Rebecca, Sinead & I have all known each other for years and have spent many, many years singing together. The blend of our three voices is a sound I adore, and I’m so grateful to have them featured in the song.”
“Radio” is taken from D. Cullen’s forthcoming debut album, “Sing My Story, Tell My Song”. The album will be released in Autumn 2022.
lyrics
Don’t go around playing with my head again
Watch what you said, go back to bed
I feel so tired and so old these days
there’s nothing to do or say, nowhere to hide and play
Turn up the noise, get in the flow
turn up the sound on the radio
We’ve got a lot of nowhere to go
listen to what’s on the radio
I hate the beat, who am I to judge
let yourself go to the sugar rush
of the radio, of the radio
I looped my days for several years before
I found the cure, I get so bored
but mandated loneliness brought back the beast
I fell asleep, I need release
Turn up the noise, get in the flow
turn up the sound on the radio
We’ve got a lot of nowhere to go
listen to what’s on the radio
I hate the beat, who am I to judge
let yourself go to the sugar rush
of the radio, of the radio
I know that we’re saving ourselves, but I cannot see a way out
I need some comfort now
The hours fall into the days, the seconds come crashing away
there’s one thing to save me
Turn up the noise, get in the flow
turn up the sound on the radio
We’ve got a lot of nowhere to go
listen to what’s on the radio
I hate the beat, who am I to judge
let yourself go to the sugar rush
of the radio, of the radio
credits
released January 28, 2022
Written by D. Cullen
Produced by Conor McLoughlin/D. Cullen
Mixed by Roger Bechirian
Lead Vox/Piano/Synth/Acoustic Guitar/Electric Guitar/Bass/Drums by D. Cullen
Backing Vox by Rebecca Geary
Backing Vox by Sinead McConville
Intro Drums by Binzer Brennan
Tambourine by Conor McLoughlin
Additional Programming by Roger Bechirian
Tanya Donnelly, Wreckless Eric, Rosanne Cash, contribute cover versions of John Wesley Harding’s songs for this charitable compilation. Bandcamp New & Notable May 6, 2021
Harding celebrates the arrival of his catalogue on Bandcamp with this limited release sampler that's available until October 3rd. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 2, 2020
