Martyrs – Drowning Days (2026)
Making big music in small rooms, Welsh pair Jon Howells and Michael Hall prove that you don’t need bells and whistles or big studios to create something memorable. Inspired by the likes of The Blue Nile, Steely Dan, Cyndi Lauper and Iron Maiden, Howells and Hall saunter across diverse genres in an eclectic blend of boundary-breaking melodies. The latest addition to Martyr’s discography is the single, ‘Drowning Days’.
Following the well-received Church Street EP, ‘Drowning Days’ is self-described as a “sad banger” – a song that unpacks human experiences with threads of melancholy and vulnerability in a melodic weave of music. Yet, while ‘Drowning Days’ captures the tumultuous tragedy and disappointment of sad bangers, it is also a song of hope, optimism and resilience. Vocalist Michael Hall explains:
“Think of the best summers you ever spent, the sunniest days, the most beautiful cities, those perfect, pristine moments at music festivals, in beer gardens, swimming in the lake. Now imagine all of that, but you’re completely alone. The people make the places. ‘Drowning Days’ is about losing those people but still trying to find solace in those same locations, revisiting them in solitude and trying to find something inside yourself that makes being completely alone bearable, even enjoyable.”
Produced by Jon Howells, ‘Drowning Days’ finds the line between the old-school post-punk sounds of The Cure and Depeche Mode, and a contemporary electronic-pop dance anthem. Built on a pulsating beat – almost like a heart beating in the background – the swerving, shimmering synths express a nostalgic yearning and a smiling laugh, transforming moments of melancholy into shifts of empowering hope. For me, however, it is not the harmonic groove of drums, synths, keyboards, and guitar that truly makes the song; it is Hall’s rich vocals. His vocals dance atop ‘Drowning Days’, and you feel as if he is holding his hand out, urging you to take it and waltz through the sadness.
In addition to the single, Martyrs released an official music video for ‘Drowning Days’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel. Please note that his video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about Martyrs on their Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, YouTube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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