Premiere: White Denim Shares New Single “Second Dimension” | Under the Radar | Music Blog for the Indie Music Magazine
Wednesday, November 13th, 2024  

Premiere: White Denim Shares New Single “Second Dimension”

New LP 12 Due Out on December 6th via Bella Union

Oct 10, 2024 Photography by Charlie Weinmann

White Denim has gone through innumerable changes through the years since they first debuted with their 2008 albums Workout Holiday and Exposition. In the decades since, the band has shifted between various shades of post punk, soul, jazz, and psych rock, crafting a style based around intuitive “on the floor” jamming and kinetic instrumental chemistry. All along the band’s lineup was constantly changing, with vocalist and guitarist James Petralli remaining their creative cornerstone.

White Denim is set to return late this year with their twelfth full-length album, fittingly entitled 12. The record finds them stepping into ‘70s-tinged garage rock, soul, and funk, with Petralli embracing digital collaboration for the first time after relocating to Los Angeles in the midst of COVID. As Petralli explains, “It was out of the window with the ‘band on the floor’ idea – even the idea of a band. On this record, there are many bands, if you like, sometimes in the room with me, but sometimes completely miles away in a remote collaboration, and that process opened up a lot of possibility for me.”

12 is out on December 6th via Bella Union. The band have already shared the lead single, “Light On,” and today they’re sharing another new track, “Second Dimension,” premiering with Under the Radar.

“Second Dimension” comes floating atop loose bass grooves and breezy synth hooks, immersing the band in an easy, golden-hued charm. The syncopated guitars, playful flute tones, and stacked harmonies give it the feel of a forgotten ‘70s soul classic, while the giddy keyboard solo brings out a slight psychedelic undertone. Most of all though, the track sounds like all involved are having a great time. Lyrically, the song is about knowing oneself, being willing to look within and explore what needs to change: “I’m looking forward to some answers to questions / That I’ve been asking you for so long / I’m looking forward to understanding my heart / In a world that’s often so wrong.”

Petralli says of the track, “The music for ‘Second Dimension’ was written by Michael Hunter. My lyrics are trying to provide an example of an alternative way of being and seeing in our current golden age for assholes. I was reading Jung when I wrote them. I’d be remiss to not mention that when I write for others music I try to at least create a tone in the lyric that reflects a part of who the author is to me. Michael has been with me for quite a while now and I really love my time with him. He is thoughtful, kind, bafflingly creative, and effortlessly capable. This recording also marks the first time I had the privilege of working with my old friend and collaborator Josh Block in 10 years. We cut the basic at his studio with him on drums. He brings an amazing energy and sound to everything he works on.

O’Connor Hartnett is the writer/director/editor of this video and his family lives next door to my family. We have been known to have creative meetings in our respective backyards, separated by the fence, in the tradition of Wilson and Tim. I believe his idea is loosely based on Jungian Archetypes. I trusted him completely on this project. He is incredibly talented and professional and considering that I paid him with tamales and Budweiser, I should feel like the luckiest independent rocker in the world. I do. Michael, Connor, and I made this on our own and I’m super proud to be a part of it.”

Check out the song and video below. 12 is due out on December 6th via Bella Union.



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