Easy Life is known for their dynamic live show, and sharp lyricism, their new album MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE… feels like a continuation of their debut life's a beach. It's a post-pandemic realization that Life will never be the same and feels self-exploratory and more open and vulnerable.
MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE… feels like a perfectly scripted play, with the opener, "GROWING PAINS," they so perfectly set the scene. Frontman Murray Matravers hits each lyric with the kind of charm that radiates through the music. "BASEMENT" exudes this effortless energy. "I feel thе wheels coming off. I think I had a little too much; worry about it later," Matravers sings over sunshiney beats that hide the darker theme. It's a skill they've perfected. The repeated line "Are we there yet" is accented by a distorted outro that feels looming.
After their debut album, Easy Life expected to wait a while before their next release. Their record label didn't even know they were making a new album. The pandemic brought them the opportunity to create without the pressure of their debut project.
"We spent so long making our debut," Matravers says, "There were so many songs that I've written in the past, over the last five or six years, that I saved them for the debut. I think all of us in the band had built up this pressure on ourselves to produce an amazing debut. I think we did a great job, but there was so much pressure on it, and then afterward, when we started making the second one, we just forgot all about that. We were like, 'That's perfect. Let's not rerecord anything. Let's just keep it super raw, super authentic.' And it took us less than a year to make."
When the pandemic hit, their tours stopped, and Life came to a halt, as it did for everyone. He was able to process everything and sit still for a while. It produced a more pensive album. He says, "I was able to stop and process everything that had happened in my career, in my childhood, and my friendships and my relationships. I think that's why I got so introspective because, at times, people never actually stop and have that time to process about. I was looking at the habit, and I think because of that, I ended up just kind of reliving all the past trauma and regret that I had and writing out about it."
That rawness really translates. The songs feel casual but concise. They're narrowed in on these specific feelings and moments. In "DEAR MISS HOLLOWAY," their collaboration with BROCKHAMPTON's Kevin Abstract is a classic tale of unrequited love and longing. It feels so classic and dreamy. They carry that energy in "OTT" featuring BENEE, a song that tackles addiction and relationships in a way only they can. Matravers explains, "All of the songs that I write, I think, are inherently quite sad. But the music is always really uplifting. I always write uplifting chord progressions, and I like major chords more than minor chords. So inherently, they feel slightly more uplifting or hopeful."
For example, "BUBBLE WRAP" starts with the faint intro, "And so it was, just like in fairy tales, they lived out the rest of their days in absolute fucking misery." Then leading into this gorgeous, orchestral production, the authenticity just bleeds through. The voice notes at the end add to the emotion, but it has that air to it that feels so effortless. It translates to their live shows in a way that feels cleansing. Matravers adds, "It's really funny because everybody, they've got huge smiles on their face and their hands in there, and they're singing these what I think are really sad lyrics and loving it, and it's such a strange thing to see."
In "CROCODILE TEARS," Matravers throws some of his most colorful lyrics together in a train of thought that feels so chaotic but pieces together so well. "So let's forget the endless scrolling, bottomless fizzy drinks. Weekends spent in staring at a screen. I finally paid my dealers back. So count your blessings two-four-seven" he dishes out each line so gracefully.
"When we first started, we used to just get fucked up all the time, and it led to loads of mental health issues. But just in general, health issues. We're okay now, don't get me wrong, we're all fine now, but it took us a few years to realize that.," Matravers explains, "Actually, I don't think I really like partying that much. I just like going to bed and reading a book. It's much more enjoyable. I feel I'm actually pretty healthy, to be honest. I've reached the point where I should look after myself now, which is nice."
The album served as a sort of cathartic release, a way to look in the mirror and realize maybe the image isn't ideal and it needs to change. Easy Life found a way to paint the most difficult facets of their lives and turn them into bright songs filled with energy but with those layers of authenticity.
“I think in many ways, it's like a coming-of-age album. I realized with that break that I had, I was able to go back to way back into my childhood and address that little sad boy who still lives inside me,” Matravers says, “I think maybe it's an opportunity for the fans to do the same and try and heal themselves or at least get to know themselves better. I think it's the better you know yourself, the more powerful you become.”
