Melbourne four-piece, Mayfair Kytes have announced the release of their debut album, Animus (out April 1), alongside quirky and musically dazzling single, Sleepyhead (out March 18). The folk-art-pop band will be hitting the road to celebrate the release with album launch shows at The Workers Club (Melbourne) on April 8 and The Vanguard (Sydney) on April 28. 

Layered with exquisite vocal harmonies and opulent string scores by Willow Stahlut (Cinematic Orchestra), the single is perfectly textured by bold, discordant guitars accentuating the song’s inimitable musical brilliance. “Sleepyhead is a meditation on two themes, one being the creative process versus the logical world and how choosing your own destiny can lead you down a long road of self-discovery that might clash with more pragmatic streams of life,” lead vocalist and songwriter Matt Kelly explains, “and secondly, it is about dealing with the depression that often comes with such a way of being.” 

Storyboarded, hand-animated, filmed and directed by Melbourne artist, Thomas Russell (Hiatus Kaiyote, Chet Faker, Flyying Colours), the fittingly artistic video for Sleepyhead follows contemporary dancer Geoffrey H Watson as he saunters his way around an empty white room, tearing off layers of bulky clothing in an act of defiance, musing as his heavy steps become joyful skips with each layer shed. “The film-clip is about coming out of a dark place, shedding the things that hold you back, not being constrained by male stereo types… shedding the past,” says Kelly. 

Recorded in just over a year with close pal, Nick Herrera between his notable home studio and a converted chapel in Melbourne’s inner north, the album features performances from string players from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, as well as extra synths and production added by Hiatus Kaiyote’s Simon Mavin and Paul Bender. “We employed Nick for his highly creative streak, his love and respect of tonality and the way he works hard to achieve sounds,” enthuses Kelly, “And we used the chapel to record all the string scores as it had a long reverb and delay so we could use the authentic room sounds in the recordings, no extra effects needed.” 

A dense mosaic of flourishing strings, jangly guitars, tape-driven beats, synthscapes and samples, this impressive debut album shows extreme consideration and depth as it touches on themes of loss, acceptance and reprieve. Kelly explains, “It's kind of a reverse break up album, beginning at the separation and working its way forward to reconciliation.” 

And as you’d imagine, fans can expect a very distinctive live set, showcasing interesting and different vocals and harmonies, otherworldly guitar sounds, captivating ambience and explosive to-the-point-of-post-rock climaxes, as well as a dense layer of modular synths. 

Mayfair Kytes are Matt Kelly (vocals, guitar), Austin Busch (vocals, guitar, keys, samples), Jack Nicholson (drums, samples) and Phoebe Jacobs (vocals, samples). 

Debut single Sleepyhead is out March 18, new album Animus is out April 8 and launch show tickets are ON SALE NOW. 

MAYFAIR KYTES ALBUM LAUNCH TOUR DATES 

FRI APRIL 8 | THE WORKERS CLUB MELBOURNE VIC | 18+ Tickets available from http://theworkersclub.oztix.com.au/?eventId=60292 

 THURS APRIL 28 | THE VANGUARD SYDNEY NSW | 18+