CMON CMON REVEAL EPONYMOUS DEBUT EP & SET OCTOBER 19TH RELEASE–
NEW SINGLE ‘SAY WHAT IT MEANS’ OUT NOW
FIRST LONDON HEADLINE SHOW ON NOVEMBER 16th 2022 AT PAPERDRESS VINTAGE
“Blissed out, bitter sweet and very delightful”
– Classic Rock Magazine
PURCHASE TICKETS TO PAPERDRESS VINTAGE ON NOVEMBER 16th
London, September 15th 2022 – Belgian indie-rock trio CMON CMON have announced that their debut EP will release on October 19th 2022. The EP is announced alongside the release of their second single, ‘Say What It Means’ (out now), and news that they will play their first UK headline show on November 16th 2022 at London’s Paperdress Vintage (tickets on sale September 16th). The eponymous EP will feature 3 tracks, including previous release ‘The Summers We Missed’.
‘Say What It Means’, an R.E.M.-meets- Teenage Fanclub rocker, is about Jorrit’s experience of phoneys in the advertising industry. Speaking on the lyrical content of the track, Jorrit Hermans (vocals, guitar) explains, “This song was fueled by my experiences with dishonest people who disguise their true intentions. I developed the lyrics to support people when they’re at their most vulnerable and delicate state of mind. Yet, this can be very powerful as well. So here’s a plea to look at strength and vulnerability as two sides of the same thing. We hope it can help people to speak up and speak out to actually say what they mean. It’s everyone’s right to do so Just say what it means. Not what it seems.”
In the accompanying music video for ‘Say What It Means’ by director Aline Boyen, DOP Michel Rosendaal, and producer Wenneker in Belgium, we watch how a group of teenagers hunt and bully a teenage girl, who has to escape their glances, preoccupations and judgements. Jorrit comments that “A strong sense of tension is created as very grown-up themes are played by a group of kids who should be representing honesty and authenticity. The story shows how we sometimes deal with other cultures, ideas, feelings and opinions.”
The new track follows from the critical acclaim of their breakout single ‘The Summers We Missed’, which gained traction across dozens of publications streaming playlists, and accolades from the likes of Atwood Magazine and Classic Rock Magazine.
“Emphatic, invigorating energy, roaring beats, and warm harmonies
that add just the right touch at just the right time”
– Atwood Magazine
It was Jorrit who contacted his fellow band members – bassist Steven Omblets and drummer Michel Becx – in 2019 after 20 years apart. Now in their 40s, but still living near each other in northeast Belgium, they had lost touch while establishing diverse careers – Jorrit in advertising, Steven as a sociology lecturer and Michel as an estate agent. “I’d started writing songs again and remembered how much fun it was when the three of us used to craft them together,” says Jorrit. “I called them and asked if they would like to get in a rehearsal room to see how it went. Immediately, the chemistry between us was back.”
When lockdown came along, they’d already decided to do a demo, maybe even release an EP. But before they knew it, an album’s worth of songs was written and a list of fantasy producers compiled to contact. In truth, they expected to hear nothing back from Alex Newport, whose work with Death Cab For Cutie they all admired. But immediately he mailed back, saying he loved the songs and signed on to produce. His passion for the band and the first single in particular was emphatic, saying “The Summers We Missed” is an instant powerpop classic with those wonderfully bittersweet lyrics that CMON CMON excel at. Love the driving guitars and vocal harmonies on this one!”
Recording locally in Brussels and at Trypoul Studios in the Netherlands (on rare vintage equipment), the trio linked remotely to Newport’s Future Shock Studio in L.A. to polish the songs which were then mixed and mastered by Carl Saff in Chicago. Deciding they might need a manager CMON CMON chanced their arm with Budd, whose illustrious career they had long admired. Once again, to their shock, an email came back full of love for the songs.
Also announced is the band’s debut UK show, taking place at London at Paperdress Vintage on November 16th 2022. Initially, CMON COMON thought that they may not perform live, “These songs were written to capture us in this moment, not to make us rock stars posing on stage,” says Steven. “But the reaction we’ve had has convinced us otherwise. To our own amazement, we’re going to tour.” Tickets to the concert are on sale October 16th 2022.