Exclusive Track Premiere: ‘Cathy Come Home,’ Flyte

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEQUOIA ZIFF.

For the first single off of London-based band Flyte’s debut LP (out August 25 via Island Records), the alternative four-piece stays close to their roots. Premiering exclusively below, “Cathy Come Home” sets its eyes on a former schoolmate of the bandmates whose experience rings true no matter what side of the Atlantic you’re on. 

 “Cathy is about parents struggling to let their children out into the world,” explains lead singer Will Taylor, who forms Flyte with Nick Hill, Jon Supran, and Sam Berridge. Written from the perspective of Cathy’s parents, the song addresses the young woman in question and begins contemplatively: “Maybe you’re right / We’re holding on too tight.” But its tone soon shifts, beckoning her to return for dinner. The protective call is both banal and far-reaching, an attempt to protect that’s situated somewhere between offering a shield and building an impenetrable bubble. “We were watching a lot of Ken Loach while we were writing it,” says Taylor, “hence the slightly bleak narrative and of course, the title.” In what the band describes as a “rare” turn of events, the song’s lyrics and music arrived together. Taylor also says that it’s reflective of what to expect on the rest of the album.

“The whole album is more or less a live performance, so within those limitations we’re trying to surprise the listener as much as possible,” explains Taylor, who promises “no shortage of twists and turns” within the 35-minute framework of the album (which they hope listeners will experience from start to finish). Their four voices will continue to feature prominently, and ultimately, are core to their approach. “The vocals are where we’ve been most creative,” continues Taylor, “whenever we need to make a moment in a song work better, we use our voices.”

FLYTE’S DEBUT ALBUM (ISLAND RECORDS) IS OUT AUGUST 25, 2017. FOR MORE ON FLYTE, VISIT THE BAND’S WEBSITE.