Cult London act Famous are releasing their long-awaited debut album in October and following June’s double teaser “God Hold You” / “It Goes On Forever” we now have a third glimpse in the form of “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life”.
The band’s sole consistent member is Jack Merrett, who says the song is “a long searched for happiness that is somehow promised and yet forever out of reach”. That descriptor could apply to pretty much any Famous song – it’s basically the act’s raison d’être and it’s why we love them.
“What Are You Doing…” is a mad dash through questions of existence and purpose, with alien synths underscoring the chugging guitars like that seasick feeling of aimlessness that hounds you at every turn. While Merrett starts in his slovenly lower register, it’s unsurprising to hear him jump into his unhinged howl as the song careens onwards and these questions loom larger over the song. His words are directed at somebody whom he’s tried to attach himself to as a reason for continuing on; he stumbles in all the pitfalls of comparing himself unfavourably to that person, to asking if that person now resents them, to wondering if any of this self-flagellation is even worth it. It’s the quarter life crisis writ large in unvarnished emotion delivered in exuberant art rock.
For the video for “What Are You Doing…”, Famous “decided to make a trailer for a road movie, never deciding what it was about, only how it would feel”. Watch that below or find the track on streamers.
Famous’ Party Album will be out on 11 October through untitled (recs). You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Live dates:
02 Dec: Hug & Pint, Glasgow
03 Dec: Yes basement, Manchester
04 Dec: Rough Trade, Bristol
05 Dec: Corsica Studios, London
