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Apr 07, 2021 By Caleb Campbell Photography by Joelle Grace

Last we heard from Athens Georgia-based band New Madrid they’d just released their 2016 album magnetkingmagnetqueen. The band took their time writing and recording the follow-up, their forthcoming self-titled record, only finishing it in early 2019. That longer process resulted in a tight encapsulation of their southern indie rock sound while bringing in newer elements. As Ben Hackett describes, “It feels like a cool re-set. This is the closest to what the band has always sounded like in our heads.”

The band have already shared two singles from the record, “It’s Okay 2 Cry” and “Queen For a Day.” Now they’ve returned with their newest single, “Are You The Wind,” premiering with Under the Radar.

“Are You The Wind” puts the band’s growth on full display, showing off how well the longer writing period worked for the band. The song initially begins in the band’s established lane, running through driving southern indie rock, colored by effortless guitar lines, and a propulsive drum beat.

Yet, there are new touches that give the track a fresh feel, especially the mixture of live and electronic drums, moving the track seamlessly through a shifting structure. Most notably, the middle section allows the instrumentation to fall away for a spacious ambient section, gently carried by mercurial synth tones and understated electronic percussion. Slowly the electronic percussion builds back up, joined by the live drumming for a climactic build back into the dynamic opening rhythm. It’s already quite apparent New Madrid’s newest work ratchets up both the songwriting and musicianship on display, reintroducing the band with an inventive new flair after their long hiatus.

The band says of the track, “Something about how when the wind blows invisible. Tree limbs whistle like hair running down. Weather can deliver you.

‘Are You the Wind’ is one of the first songs we started writing for the new album, but the last to find its final form. We road-tested it, opening a lot of shows with it before we set it aside. The middle section was originally a way to allow us some space to go into a trance playing live. Exploring the dynamics gave it new life and a swirling big wide sound recording it.” Check out the song below. New Madrid is out April 30th on Lemonade Records.