Fans of Gemma Hayes have been waiting a long time for new music but, finally, after nine years, she’s back with the amazing new single “High & Low”. This awesome song really showcases her artistry and totally was worth the wait! She also dropped an accompanying music video alongside the single release. This officially acts as the follow-up to her feature on Above & Beyond’s 2015 single “Counting Down The Days’.
Gemma Hayes is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has captivated audiences with her heartfelt music and enchanting performances. Despite a hiatus from releasing new material, Gemma Hayes has remained active on the touring circuit, delivering captivating shows that have garnered sold-out performances in renowned venues like London’s Omeara and Dublin’s Whelan’s. Her talent extends beyond the stage, as she has contributed to the soundtracks of notable films and TV series, including the upcoming adaptation of Roddy Doyle’s “Greyhound of a Girl” and the popular show “Pretty Little Liars”, Gemma Hayes’ debut album, “Night On My Side”, propelled her career to new heights, earning her the Best Female Artist accolade at the Hot Press Awards and a Mercury Prize nomination. With a discography comprising four critically acclaimed studio albums and a live record, Gemma Hayes has been praised for her ability to seamlessly navigate between profound life experiences and an indie folk/rock style that draws influences from the likes of Nick Drake and My Bloody Valentine. In addition to her musical achievements, Gemma Hayes has made noteworthy television appearances, including a performance on TradFest: The Fingal Sessions and a collaborative show with Lisa Hannigan and Paul Noonan, filmed at Cahir Castle and set to air on RTÉ 2. With Irish and UK dates in the works for the autumn, Gemma Hayes continues to captivate audiences with her evocative music and undeniable talent.
“‘High & Low’ is about feeling disconnected – but desperately wanting to connect,” explains Gemma Hayes. “In the song, this idea is placed in the context of grief and longing for a person who is gone, leaving a ghostly feeling of not fully being alive because of their departure. A nice, happy dance floor anthem this is not!”
“It means so much to me to be releasing new music this year,” Gemma Hayes continued. “Whilst I never stopped creating during my ‘hiatus’, I did indeed step back from sharing what I created simply because of the little humans that needed me to keep them alive for the first few years of their lives. I really needed music and songs to transport me out of my head and back into my gut. It’s hard not to feel a strange joy as a human when creating and self-expressing in any artful way. Writing songs for me is like entering a world where magic is real, there’s a heightened sense of aliveness.”
Watch the official music video to “High & Low” by Gemma Hayes here:
Proving to us all that it was worth the wait, Gemma Hayes brings it for her amazing heartfelt ballad. Co-produced by David Odlum (The Frames), the track empowers the feeling of yearning for a connection, with Gemma Hayes’ incredible vocals shining from start to finish. Every single lyric is coming straight from her heart and we feel it, deep inside our bones. Delving into wanting something that isn’t there, wanting to be with someone who isn’t there, really flows through to the listener and defines the whole atmospheric production of the track. With David Odlum on bass duties, Sam Killeen on electric guitar, and Adam Marcello on drums whilst Gemma Hayes also took on the deft guitar, piano, and the ukelele, “High & Low” really has a soul-searching vibe to it with a slight haunting melody wrapped around an intrinsic beat that only adds to Gemma Hayes’ brilliant vocals and emotional integrity.
As for the music video, which has been directed by Allyn Quigley, we watch Gemma Hayes walk along Whiting Bay, Co. Waterford beach as she sings this track, almost showcasing an overthinking grief-like moment as she takes time to herself, across the sand. As the song continues, the video connects with lyrical aspects of the track, by adding two shadowy figures who perform choreographed routines whilst she continues to walk. These figures then include Gemma Hayes in their routine as if she’s meant to be the third person in their choreography, but she’s not fully there, with her mind clearly somewhere else. This connects amazingly with the song as she is clearly unaware of what is happening around her or maybe she’s overthinking so much that the shadowy figures are a part of her imagination showcasing to herself her inability to connect. Overall, this music video concept is beyond amazing and it’s definitely intricate to watch.
Stream the newly-released single on Spotify here:
“High & Low”, by Gemma Hayes, is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Townsend Music Limited. Look out for her forthcoming studio album, which is expected later this year.