Denver pop-punk adjacent quintet, Relate. have released their new single, “Sludge” today. The new track marks the second single taken from their forthcoming EP, Attachment, which is the follow up to their 2023 release, Chemical Condition. Lyrically, “Sludge” details frontman Duncan Slacks personal struggles in light of the band reaching new milestones. Listen to the track now below.
Speaking about the song, vocalist Duncan Slack said, “When we put out Chemical Condition I really didn’t think that we’d receive such a positive response… or much of any response. I remember being at a sold out Denver show of ours and a friend of mine came up to the merch table to congratulate me on the traction that the band had gained. It was definitely incredible to hear crowds singing back the words to our songs, I mean that is something that I have always wanted. But as the band became more busy my life didn’t feel any more complete, it was actually kind of the opposite. It definitely felt like some of my closest friends were putting me on a pedestal as a “success” when in reality I was miserable and spending almost all of my time depressed and alone writing songs. That thought process evolved into Sludge. Lyrically Sludge is a song about failing to feel connected to people in my life because I was so pre-occupied with getting Relate. off of the ground. Musically Sludge was the first song that our drummer Diego had brought to the band. He had most of instrumental parts and structure written prior to the whole band working on it.”
Drummer Diego Valenzuela added, “It’s named Sludge because it sounds like Sludge.”
In addition to releasing their new single, Relate. have also announced a spring 2024 tour with California pop-punks Calmgrove and the Phoenix Arizona based band Troubled Minds. All upcoming tour dates can be found HERE.