RAAVE TAPES give final tease of debut album with bass-heavy single, 'Braces'

Newcastle duo RAAVE TAPES edge closer to the reveal of their debut album (due out on Friday, May 24th) with one last single to tease, and they have done so with a doozy of a bass-heavy track in ‘Braces’.

The last single to come from the album is a massive highlight on that release, featuring huge hooks, deep, hypnotising bass, and seriously slick production from collaborator Fletcher Matthews (Dear Seattle, Stumps, The Buoys). ‘Braces’ is the opener for the album, and lays down the perfect platform for the rest of the debut.

RAAVE TAPES go for the big guns on ‘Braces’, bringing an ABSOLUTE VIBE with this track that boasts such a rubbery, huge bass line, house synths, and a climatic ending that has no right in going that hard. ‘Braces’ most definitely gives cheeky nods to the older Ministry of Sound collections, but also harks back to earlier Pnau, bringing that Australian experimentalism into a club-ready house track. A definite banger, and one that you know will go completely mental in a live performance.

Thematically, the track tells a tale of friendship - and the feeling of being your true self around the people most important to you.

“This song feels like that last scene in Thelma and Louise when they look at each other before they drive off the cliff (sorry for the spoiler) and there’s that moment of solidarity between them. Maybe the title is an allusion to needing to be ‘braced up’ by your mates. Maybe it’s an allusion to crooked teeth and the ugly smiles you share with those close to you when you think no one is looking.” - Lindsay O’Connell, RAAVE TAPES

While writing the track, Joab and Lindsay, along with producer Fletch Matthews looked back in time for their inspiration - drawing on early dance and electronic floor-fillers that focussed more on impact than lyrical content.

“We indulged ourselves with the production of BRACES, tapping into some Ministry of Sound x French Electronica nostalgia. Harking back to a simpler time, when 80% of dance music was simply a few words that barely made sense followed by a dirty drop.”- Joab Eastley, RAAVE TAPES

The debut, self-titled album from RAAVE TAPES drops this Friday on the 24th of May; 12 songs of pure pop-bliss that range from out and out club-ready ragers (‘k hi’, ‘Goodbye’ ‘Braces’) to perfectly-crafted pop songs (‘I Just Wanna Be Alone’, ‘Wake Up Next To You’), and everything in between. Thematically, the album discusses the different relationship situations we find ourselves in, and how drastically these relationships can change over time.

“The most integral themes of the album revolve around the interpersonal relationships we have with the people around us, to the nearest and dearest, as well as those who’ve become distant and not so dear. It’s a pretty broad and universal overarching theme for sure, but its one that heavily impacted our writing process. At it’s core, we were a few good friends locked in a room with no phone reception for long periods of time, and that encouraged plenty of D&Ms, late night soul-searching & a level of introspection that pushed us in a more earnest & personal direction.” - Joab Eastley, RAAVE TAPES

The three previously released singles from the album (‘Goodbye’, ‘k hi’ and ‘I Just Wanna Be Alone’) have all enjoyed plenty of attention from radio and DSPs alike, with first plays on triple J for ‘Goodbye’ and ‘k hi’, Unearthed rotation and RAGE rotation for ‘k hi’, countless spins across community radio and a plethora of playlists from Apple Music and Tik Tok in particular.

The band have worked stages across the country relentlessly over the years, playing shows with the likes of The Presets, Northeast Party House, Slumberjack and many more, as well as festivals such as BIGSOUND, SXSW, Laneway Sydney, Groovin The Moo and Festival Of The Sun. The band have already shown they have a strong support base for their live show, and with the release of their self-titled debut, RAAVE TAPES are out to prove they have what it takes to become one of Australia’s most beloved bands.

‘Braces’ is out now on all streaming platforms, and the self-titled debut album from RAAVE TAPES is out this Friday, May 24th.