PREMIERE: Belfast artist Garrett Laurie explores unhealthy habits on 'Take Me Out Dancing'

Northern Irish talent Garrett Laurie has unveiled his brand new pop single in the form of the cinematic 'Take Me Out Dancing' - premiered below by Hot Press.

The queer artist from Belfast wrote this song in 2020 and co-producing it in Start Together Studios with Ryan McGroarty of Beauty Sleep as part of an upcoming EP over the past seven months.

There's a distinctive air of 80s nostalgia within the track's pores, with Garrett's haunting yet beautiful voice fully in control of the pace. Soft background instrumentation and warm synths and acoustic guitar tones add a relaxing atmosphere to the music, despite the words holding a more poignant meaning.

Trying to avoid distractions which don't serve us, especially in a global pandemic, was a deep struggle for many. The soporific, dreamy nature of the track pulls the listener away from such devices and into a dance - which was exactly what Laurie intended. At the same time, the infectious intonations of the melodies mirror the addictive facet of most unhealthy habits. It's clever, and plays to the musician's strengths.

"I set out to create an interesting blend of sonic styles to match the feelings of uncertainty within the lyrics," Garrett says of 'Take Me Out Dancing'. "The song is about holding onto unhealthy habits and crutches when everyday life becomes overwhelming. I like the idea of likening this sentiment to a dance, pairing deeper lyrical content with tropes of a generically catchy, pop or dance song."

Laurie's debut, bedroom-recorded single 'Have Fun' was released back in March 2020 and caught the attention of key players in the business. Follow up track 'Crying On Cue' showed off the subsequent EP's dark synth pop sound fused with a classic Hollywood quality.

Laurie's sophomore project, 'Barbies With Betty Finn', took a lo-fi direction during the 2020 lockdowns. The work was recorded solely with iPhone voice-notes, adding another layer of intimacy and introspection. Garrett pulled back on production value to heighten this EP's lyrical impact, using the theatrical thematic devices at the core of 'Crying On Cue' to establish a unique artistic identity.

n August of this year, Laurie played their first show through Table It Promotions in The Sunflower, a gig originally slated for April 2020 but was postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. July single, 'In A Way, It's Okay', made NI Music Prize's Eligible List for Best Song. The track was also noticed by major music publications - including Hot Press.

Listen to 'Take Me Out Dancing' below: