Sälen announce “Zebedy’s Cult” short film & soundtrack out 11/10 – first track revealed
London’s Sälen have announced Zebedy’s Cult, a short film and accompanying soundtrack EP due for release on November 10 via Island Records. Today the band share two tracks from the EP, the brand new song “I Am Champagne” and a reworked version of their acclaimed debut “I’m In Love With My Best Friend.” Zebedy’s Cult will was written and directed by the band.
“Zebedy’s Cult is about a flamboyant agony uncle called Zebedy,” explain Sälen. “He is on call like a drug dealer, to give advice from his rickshaw. The soundtrack deals with unrequited love and addresses the promiscuity of women in a way society sadly does not. Lite Behaviour is our homage to the girls who carry condoms with them always, whilst Sweet Toothache is about sucking off an ice cream man. We wanted to re-release a more polished I’m In Love With My Best Friend as the original was recorded in Simon’s bedroom when Ellie wasn’t fully aware of her voice yet. I Am Champagne is one that parents can get behind with its message that you don’t need champagne and cocaine to have fun.”
Off the back a string of sold out shows across the UK, and an already enviable catalogue of acclaimed acerbic and infectious tracks, Sälen are shaping up to be one of 2018’s serious contenders. The East London trio of Ellie Kamio, Paul Taylor and Simon Milner introduced themselves with the straight-talking “I’m In Love With My Best Friend,” revamped and given a full release for the first time on Zebedy’s Cult. Highlights that followed include gross-out pop gem “Diseasey;” urban dictionary favorite “Copper Kiss;” and the bittersweet “Heartbreak Diet,” leading to strong support from BBC Radio 1 and accolades including both Apple Music and the Guardian‘s New Artist Of The Week, and topping the Spotify UK Viral 50 chart.
Sälen have sold out headline shows at London’s Kamio and Electrowerkz, curated their own one day festival, Umami at the Ace Hotel, and appeared at Annie Mac’s AMP night at the Jazz Cafe and BBC Introducing’s event at the Roundhouse, as well as stealing the show at The Great Escape, Lovebox and Parklife festivals, amongst others. The band play a headline show at London’s Oslo on October 25.
“songs about love and loss with a hissing passion at their centre” – The FADER
ultra-cool and seductive electronics” – Complex
“melty, marvelous pop” – Noisey
“Earworm pop that doesn’t shy away from narrating sexual encounters and parents’ affairs” – NME, The NME 100 2017
“Dark love poetry with a side of sour candy” – i-D
“bitter-edged synthpop with fangs” – The Guardian
“addictive, refreshingly honest pop” – DIY
“artfully composed synth pop, matching the sensual to the cerebral” – Clash
“Sälen make deceptively sweet music but don’t mince words” – Wonderland
“Bad decisions never sounded so good” – The BEAT
“Smooth vocals and groovy production blend together beautifully” – The 405
“Upbeat pop contrasted with bitterly acerbic lyrics” – Line of Best Fit, Essential Songs of 2016
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