Lazy Day – the brainchild of London-based songwriter Tilly Scantlebury (they/them) – announce their debut album, Open the Door, ahead of a November 8th release via Brace Yourself Records (Panic Shack, JOHN, Nuha Ruby Ra), as well as unveiling plans for a February 2025 headline UK tour in support of it.
The album’s arrival has been teased in recent months with the acclaimed singles ‘Bright Yellow‘ and ‘Killer‘ and today a further glimpse of Open the Door is offered by new cut ‘Falling Behind‘: a prime example of Scantlebury at the peak of their powers, crafting indie-rock that’s equal parts contemplative and confrontational – a firecracker that’ll rattle around your head for days after its initial combustion.
Scantlebury explains: “This song is full of frustration — at the world and at myself — for feeling like things should be different and I could do better.” While the album’s title, Open the Door, can feel hopeful and welcoming, for Scantlebury it also conjures instances of the door being slammed shut in their face, which is felt acutely on ‘Falling Behind’: “We’ll make it fair, you’ll be heard, you want respect and that’s what you deserve / But recently I’ve noticed all the things that I’ve been promised.”
The album as a whole finds Scantlebury occupying their queerness and its constant evolution. On ‘Falling Behind’, this manifests itself in an evolving subject position, where questions are posed, answered, left open, and the “I” and “you” never really stay still. “You don’t wanna be mad, do you? / I just feel like I’m falling behind.”
It comes accompanied by a video directed and produced by CLUMP Collective. On one level a subtle counterpart to the album art, the video also follows the narrative of a relationship – what may start with apprehension or unease, can ultimately be turned around into something you’re proud and happy about. It stars Scantlebury’s wife Eleanor Crewes portraying a green monster that could be the “I”, the “you” or something else entirely…
Of the video, CLUMP say: “Our latest music video for Lazy Day, inspired by the evocative photography of Catherine Opie, captured the essence of identity and rebellion. It was so much fun to work with Tilly and Ellie, they both brought incredible energy to the shoot, and their chemistry on camera was beautiful to watch. We’re really proud of this one!”
1. Killer
2. Getting Good
3. Squirm
4. Strangest Relief
5. Bright Yellow
6. Concrete
7. Falling Behind
8. Alright
9. Joke
10. Not Now
11. All The Things That I Love
Open the Door is available now for pre-order digitally, on CD and transparent vinyl here: https://lnk.to/OpenTheDoor-LP
Photo credit: Eleanor Crewes