Halifax indie rockers Wintersleep have dropped a brand new single, “Beneficiary,” in preparation for the release of their upcoming LP, In the Land Of. The Juno Award-winning band have brought us a sure-fire indie hit entailing how we as a society continue to benefit from the systemic oppression of Indigenous peoples.
The single begs audiences to take a moment to reflect. Between heavy kick drums, whispery hi-hats and vocalist Paul Murphy’s introspective lines such as “all my life I turn a blind eye,” listeners may think twice about the society in which they live: “a war without end,” as the song goes.
“As a Canadian, I feel a real connection to that sentiment,” says Murphy. “It really encapsulates the idea of someone historically removed from these atrocities, but who nonetheless benefits and has to come to terms with and find ways to acknowledge and take on a certain responsibility in making it right.”
“A lot of the songs touch on this idea of being a stranger or feeling foreign in all the different landscapes in which the songs took place lyrically.”
The band’s snappy, artificial sounds mimic a crisp breeze trying to figure out how to turn a robot on, with an instrumental hook of mesmerizing bells. As these hopeful chimes carry the track to its end, it leaves us hopeful that we can work together to one day make our long-overdue amends.
In the Land Of, Wintersleep’s seventh full-length album is due out March 29th via Dine Alone Records.
Tour Dates:
03.20.19 – Waterloo, ON @ Maxwell’s
03.21.19 – London, ON @ London Music Hall
03.22.19 – Hamilton, ON @ New Vision United Church
03.23.19 – Ottawa, ON @ Bronson Centre
03.25.19 – Quebec City @ L’Anti
03.27.19 – Moncton, NB @ Tide & Boar
03.28.19 – Fredericton, NB @ Boyce Farmers Market
03.29.19 – Halifax, NS @ The Marquee Ballroom
03.30.19 – Halifax, NS @ The Marquee Ballroom
03.31.19 – St John’s, NL @ Club One
04.11.19 – Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
04.12.19 – Creemore, ON @ Avening Community Hall
04.13.19 – Toronto, ON @ The Danforth Music Hall ^
04.18.19 – Saskatoon,SK @ The Capitol Music Club ^
04.19.19 – Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room ^
04.20.19 – Calgary, AB @ The Palace Theatre ^
04.22.19 – Nelson, BC @ Spiritbar ^
04.23.19 – Kelowna, BC @ Sapphire Nightclub ^
04.25.19 – Kamloops, BC @ Cactus Jacks ^
04.26.19 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
04.27.19 – Victoria, BC @ Capital Ballroom
04.30.19 – Red Deer, AB @ Bo’s Bar & Grill ^
05.02.19 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange ^
05.03.19 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Garrick ^
^ with special guests Partner