Chartreuse are pleased to announce their return by unveiling a new single ‘Sequence of Voices’. Listen here.
Following on from their 2023 debut album Morning Ritual, the four-piece’s latest music, which blends elements of atmospheric indie, folk and jazz, sees them laying bare new emotional depths.
Grief, anxieties, fears… they’re all explored vividly, and their latest track recorded in Iceland with producer Sam Petts-Davies (The Smile) sets this precedent from the offset.
Speaking about ‘Sequence of Voices’, guitarist and vocalist Mike Wagstaff says: “Early last year my mom had a fall and hit her head whilst walking the dog. She was concussed for a while afterward which resulted in her heading to the hospital, just to check she hadn’t done any real damage.
After having some scans done the doctors ended up finding tumours on her brain. These, thankfully, turned out to be benign. This also happened during a time when a few of my close friends had family battling cancer, so I think the whole tone of this period in my life had soaked deeply into my songwriting.
I have a habit of holding in pressure and anxieties, like they are somehow precious to me. But when something happens that is so big as to not be ignored, it ends in almost like an explosion of outward feeling. That might give a little more insight behind the intended irony of the lines ‘there’s that feeling, glorious feeling.’”
The new single premiered today on Lauren Laverne’s BBC 6Music radio show. It also comes with a music video directed by Stewart Baxter (Idles, Marika Hackman, Orlando Weeks). Watch here.
As well as this, the band share details of their recently announced London headline show, which will take place at Hoxton Hall on Tuesday 13th May. Tickets available here.
ABOUT CHARTREUSE
The dynamic of Black Country based outfit Chartreuse feels wholeheartedly distinct. They’re made up of brothers Mike (guitar, vocals) and Rory Wagstaff (drums), partners Rory and Hattie Wilson (piano, vocals) – who have been in a relationship for 13 years – as well as childhood friends Hattie and Perry Lovering (bass).
Individualism lies at their core. They set a precedent of equality from day one, with the instruments they play all interchangeable, and no lead songwriter dictating their every move. This remains the case – music for them is like pulling puzzle pieces out of the air, fitting things in the right configuration. But now more than ever, it’s each of their own personal experiences which inform their new material.
Initially penned over a two-week period in the deep countryside of Yorkshire, the band travelled to Iceland to bring their latest recordings to life with producer Sam Petts-Davies and engineer Oli Middleton. Having self-produced their 2023 debut album Morning Ritual, bringing other minds into their creative fold was daunting at first – but it quickly became one of their best decisions. Gut instincts presided over second-guessing; if it sounded good in the moment, it stayed. If it didn’t, they tried something else. It pushed them out of their comfort zones, quietening down the scrutinous “it has to be perfect” voice which has plagued them in the past. Capturing a brief snapshot in time, it was a different approach entirely from their previous album.
No people, no limits, no distractions… all external noise was shut out, allowing the band’s music to become their most expansive to date. But their remote location provided a sanctuary in more ways than one, offering them a vital reprieve from the personal struggles that each of the band members were facing in their own lives.
For Lovering, navigating the grief of their late father’s passing bled into the creation of Chartreuse’s latest songs. Yet rather than drowning in existentialism, Lovering learned that grief doesn’t have to be the end, and that the pursuit of creating things that make you happy – in his case, making music – is ultimately what makes life worth living.
For Wilson, the anxieties of undergoing major surgery at just 29-years-old, learning to walk properly again, and the long road to recovery that still lies ahead for her shaped her approaches to the band’s new music. Initially guilty that it would affect those around her, opening up has not only been a learning curve, but also a humbling experience to witness the care that her friends, family and bandmates are more than willing to give.
Being in a band is a necessary part of life for Chartreuse. Writing music offers them a canvas to lay bare their emotions. Their openness and vulnerability with one another has helped them to heal, such is the tightness of their bond. Most importantly, despite the grief, anxieties and fears that they’ve faced, tackling them as a unit has reminded them of the important things in life, and that music will always be a tool that brings them together.
It all culminates in a fresh new chapter for Chartreuse, imbued with a palpable sense of honesty and introspectiveness that will no doubt resonate with others far and wide.