Molehill have premiered the third and final single from their new EP Hearts on Fire. The record will be released on May 12th, but today you can hear the track “Old Soldier,” a west coast hip-hop groove meets Gregorian chant that tells the story of bassist Trevor Jones’ grandfather who served in WWII.
“The ‘Old Soldier’ instrumental came to me in a wave of emotions after finding out that my Grandfather had taken a turn for the worst in late 2014,” says Jones. “My Grandfather’s reflections on his experience in WWII and remarkable life stay with me every day. Throughout our time together I would often find myself asking him questions about his life. It was hard for me to understand how someone who experienced so much pain and suffering could always maintain an unshakably positive attitude about people and life. In short, it was inspiring.“
When asked about the instrumentation, Jones says “I’m constantly messing around with variations on West Coast hip hop beats, which were a big part of the soundtrack of my youth. I have always admired the simplicity and effectiveness of Dr. Dre’s production which is partially indebted to the great George Clinton and P-Funk, Parliament, etc. George Clinton is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries.“
After bouncing ideas back and forth via email, vocalist Peter Manhart found a vocal melody that really resonated with the rest of the band and brought the emotions of the track to life. “Pete was kind enough to listen to me talk about by Grandfather for about twenty minutes, take notes, and do his best to construct a story. I’m indebted to Peter for offering so much care in his lyrical approach to this song. To me, it was the perfect compliment to the music and put me in a meditative state. I hope you enjoy listening.“
Hearts on Fire is available for pre-order here and the first two singles can be heard on Soundcloud.