Effervescent WA five-piece Demon Days are back to bless our ears with a new soul-filled track.

From the moment vocalist, Bella Nicholls croons the opening line ‘Andy, my friend of many years, hate that she gave you those tears’, you can tell the track is going to be a keeper. It’s a funky neo-soul tune with a jazzy bassline from Marley Donnan and is sophisticated with its complimenting instrumentals.

Hands-Free is lyricist Bella Nicholls’ second enquiry into her identity as a feminist. The song delves into the topic of sexual assault via the perspective of male victims. Nicholls realised many of her male friends had experienced sexual assault and that it wasn’t an issue people were talking about. With Hands-Free, Nicholls wanted to bring attention to the issue and remind people that feminism is for all genders. “This song is for all the ‘Andy’s’ that have felt diminished to come forward with their trauma,” she said. The lyrics are powerful and are moved along by Nicholls’ deep, smoky voice—so smooth you can’t deny it was made for jazz.

It’s a silky package that allows both instruments and vocals their time to shine in the sun. There’s a clear mix of elements of blues, funk and jazz intertwined with the dynamic band’s unique youthful energy.

The track is their first fresh hit since their 2018 WAM award-winning EP, Magic Eye, and we can only hope there are more sophisticated and catchy tunes to come.

The single is released ahead of Demon Days’ national tour across April and May, and listeners will find themselves converted to jazz cats with a need to boogie at one of their next shows.

Hands-Free is out now.

Get jazzy with Demon Days at one of the dates below.

TOUR DATES:

12/04 – INDI BAR, SCARBOROUGH

18/04 – THE AARDVARK, FREMANTLE

26/04 – YAH YAH’S, MELBOURNE

30/04 – COBRA CLUB, SYDNEY

3/05 – RAD BAR, WOLLONGONG

04/05 – THE MILK FACTORY, BRISBANE