telekura – hi-chew

Following their latest single of ‘big nothing’, Dublin collective telekura return with ‘hi-chew’, a powerful, angsty reflection on the relationships and opportunities we leave behind in pursuit of doing the right thing.

The band are also taking the autumn gig season by storm with Dublin and London headliners and festival appearances.

Named after the cult candy brand that frontwoman Rachel Tan remembers from childhood, ‘hi-chew’ explores nostalgia, regret and the possibilities of a relationship that was never pursued. The track sees telekura lean further into their off-kilter synth-pop, pairing wonky electronics and 90s style hazy vocals, with a playful rhythmic pulse.

“hi-chew is a really popular candy from when I was younger. Superficially, hi-chew (the song) is a wistful reflection of an unpursued relationship and what might/mightn’t have happened. There’s a bit of nostalgia and regret mixed in there. It overtly points at a romantic relationship, but really it extends to any other opportunity that you might have given up in pursuit of the ‘right thing to do’. There’s a link there with big nothing, around what’s considered the framework of a correct adult life, and what you give up in pursuit of it.” Explains Rachel.

Written by Rachel and co-founder Stephen Purcell, ‘hi-chew’ arrived largely formed, with the band instead experimenting with the arrangement and production. Recorded at home using an old machines from the early 80s, the track was mixed by Adam Shanahan.

“This was already a fun song when Rachel sent it over and didn’t really need much tweaking. During the demo process, though, it felt like the drums were missing something. After trying all kinds of parts and arrangements, we stumbled onto the idea of layering a simple drum loop over the original pattern, and it unexpectedly tied everything together. It gave the drums this kind of Pumpkins “1979” vibe, which quickly became one of our favourite things about the track.” Stephen muses on the track’s creation.

The single follows ‘big nothing’, which saw telekura take aim at the absurd expectations of adulthood and the frameworks of what a “proper” adult life is supposed to look like. Together, the two tracks sketch a recurring thread in the band’s songwriting: what we’re told a successful life should look like, and what we might lose trying to achieve it.

Sonically, ‘hi-chew’ sits firmly in telekura’s wonderfully eclectic world, pulling together off-kilter synth-pop, psychedelic textures and left-field hooks, with influences spanning XTC, The Beach Boys, St Vincent, Mitski, Nirvana, The Pixies and Faye Wong.

And there is one thing about ‘hi-chew’ that telekura are certain of: the best hi-chew flavour is grape.

The single arrives as telekura continue their run of live dates across the UK and Europe, including Pro Weekend Fest in Spain, Left Of The Dial in Rotterdam and Other Voices in Dingle, alongside Headline shows at The Social in London (tickets here) and Upstairs at Whelan’s in Dublin this November.

Live Dates:
16 October – Pro Weekend Fest, Castellón, Spain.
23-24 October – Left Of The Dial, Rotterdam
25November – The Social, London
27 November – Upstairs At Whelan’s, Dublin
28-29 November – Other Voices, Dingle
01 May – Wanderlust Festival, Southampton

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