EMI signs Rest For The Wicked
Image credit: James Hornsby
EMI Music Australia has signed Melbourne artist Ben Townsend and Sydney-based producer Tasker.
The duo make up Rest For The Wicked, which the label described as “unhinged”, “colourful” and “wondrous”.
“The result is a set of hazy, raw, genresless pop songs,” the label said. “Loose and sweet on the surface, with a melodic, dark heart.”
The group’s debut single ‘Bones’ is out now, and a series of shows in August have already sold out.
Mark Holland, general manager of A&R at EMI Music Australia, said the label is excited to be working with another world-class act.
“Impeccably co-signed into the label by A&R’s Adam Booth (Weez) and Scott Horscroft; published by our friends at Native Tongue, and managed by two forward-thinking companies in Adrian McGruther at su:ku:ya and Nick Greco at Untitled. Add some amazing personalities in Ben and Tasker, and unbelievably great music to boot. Come along for the ride,” he added.
Townsend said the debut single ‘Bones’ was an introspective examination into the shadowed depths of the mind.
“‘Bones’ is about not being afraid of what’s coming next. Sometimes the best method of madness is to give in to the overwhelming feeling of fear you feel and mould it into something undeniably greater than yourself. It was written when I was in an excruciatingly hollow state of depression. The song is about my feelings of being scared to cross over to the other side, the anxieties and unknowingness of death,” he said.
For anyone who has ever felt alone or imprisoned by their own thoughts, Tasker said they’d now found their people.
“It’s okay to not know who you are. It’s okay to not know what you’re doing or where you’re going. It’s okay to fuck up and forgive. There’s nothing wrong with laughing through the misery and crying when filled with joy. Life’s a strange and wondrous mystery,” Tasker said.
The video for ‘Bones’, below, was directed by Mushroom Creative.
Tickets for some early shows remain on sale for Sydney and Melbourne.