"Higher" is a song by New Zealand
indie electronic band
The Naked and Famous
The Naked and Famous are a New Zealand indie electronic band from Auckland, formed in 2007. The band currently consists of Alisa Xayalith (vocals, keyboards) and Thom Powers (vocals, guitars).
The band has released four studio albums: ''Passiv ...
from their third studio album, ''
Simple Forms''. It was released on 8 July 2016 as the album's lead single.
Background
After touring in support of their second studio album, ''
In Rolling Waves'' (2013), the band began a
sabbatical
A sabbatical (from the Hebrew: (i.e., Sabbath); in Latin ; Greek: ) is a rest or break from work; "an extended period of time intentionally spent on something that’s not your routine job."
The concept of the sabbatical is based on the Bi ...
in mid-2014 from touring. Their third studio album, ''Simple Forms'', was recorded at Powers' home studio in
Echo Park, Los Angeles, amidst the end of an eight-year romantic relationship between lead vocalists
Alisa Xayalith
Alisa Xayalith (born 24 August 1986) is a New Zealand musician best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and Electronic keyboard, keyboard player for the indie electronic band the Naked and Famous.
Early life
Xayalith, the daughter of Laos, ...
and Thom Powers. Xayalith stated, "It's been two years since we came off the road and a lot of life has happened in and all around us. We've been broken here and picked ourselves up again—so maybe this chorus talk a little to that experience...love, grief, time passing and returning to a place where we are lucky to have each other."
According to keyboardist Aaron Short, "Higher" was planned for inclusion on ''In Rolling Waves'', and was originally "a lot more of a down-tempo, minimal electronic form", with Powers on vocals. The song was ultimately included on ''Simple Forms''.
Release and reception
In early July 2016, the group signed with
Kobalt Label Services in North America for the release of the single, as well as their third studio album.
''
Consequence of Sound
''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television.
History
''Consequence of Sound'' was founded in Septem ...
'' described the track as dealing with both passion and pain in great quantities, with "razor synths buzzsaw and grind before being uplifted by
Xayalith's skyscraper vocals".
''
The New Zealand Herald
''The New Zealand Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand, owned by New Zealand Media and Entertainment, and considered a newspaper of record for New Zealand.
It has the largest newspaper circulation in New Zealand, ...
'' stated that "The Auckland five-piece are known for making synth-drenched festival singalongs, and Higher's shimmering hooks and shouted chorus is no different."
The song was used in a commercial for Comcast Xfinity.
Track listings
*Digital download
# "Higher"
*Digital download – FKYA Remix
# "Higher" (FKYA Remix) – 3:50
*Digital download – RAC Remix
# "Higher" (
RAC Remix) – 4:30
*Digital download – Stripped
# "Higher" (Stripped) – 4:02
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''
Simple Forms''.
*
The Naked and Famous
The Naked and Famous are a New Zealand indie electronic band from Auckland, formed in 2007. The band currently consists of Alisa Xayalith (vocals, keyboards) and Thom Powers (vocals, guitars).
The band has released four studio albums: ''Passiv ...
– production
* Thomas Powers – production
* Sombear – additional production
*
Carlos de la Garza – live instrumentation engineering
*
Ken Andrews – mixing
*
Joe LaPorta – mastering
Charts
Release history
References
External links
*
{{authority control
2016 singles
2016 songs
The Naked and Famous songs