Love and obsession have always had a complicated relationship, and the New York-based trio Some Days Are Darker seem particularly interested in exploring where one ends and the other begins. Their new single, NDRI, out today, examines the tension between emotional numbness and the overwhelming desire to feel something genuine. The release follows Memorize You, a track centred on the almost obsessive fascination of falling for someone and desperately hoping those feelings might be reciprocated.
This time, the band takes that emotional intensity in a slightly different direction. Built around a driving electronic pulse, NDRI explores the uncomfortable space between feeling too much and feeling nothing at all. As the track progresses, its darker atmosphere gradually gives way to a more expansive chorus, reflecting the growing urgency behind its message. “The things we desire in life are the same things that destroy us; that's the beauty,” explains Lear Mason, the band's frontman.
Originally conceived as Mason's solo songwriting project, Some Days Are Darker eventually evolved into a trio alongside Chris Martin and Robbie Williamson. Their music brings together influences from gothic rock, synth-driven alternative sounds and noir cinema, with a particular interest in the complicated dynamics of human relationships. Love, obsession and the fear of losing control frequently appear in their work, although they approach these subjects through different musical arrangements and moods.
At its core, NDRI deals with a contradiction that most of us can recognise. Protecting ourselves from disappointment might seem like the safest option, but it can also mean missing out on experiences worth having. It's a theme the band will continue exploring on their forthcoming album, although this latest single already gives us plenty to think about. Through its combination of electronic rhythms and darker alternative influences, Some Days Are Darker leaves us somewhere between the fear of getting hurt and the desire to experience something worth taking that risk for.
