Song premiere: Austin electro-pop act Holy Wire takes reflective journey on new single Worse for Wear
Brooklyn-turned-Austin singer/songwriter Alain Paradis of Holy Wire, stretches his lyrical muscles in a world of fuzzed-out instrumentals, blissful synth passages, and soundscapes that soothe the soul. The Austin band’s influences range from The Smiths and The Cure, with a touch of the new wave-infused Devo and New Order sensibilities. On new, electro-pop single “Worse for Wear,” Holy Wire takes their influences and makes a case for how the genre fares in the present day. This single comes as another cut from Holy Wire’s upcoming album, set to release in 2024.
Famed New York sound engineer, Abe Seiferth produced the new track. Seiferth is a mixer and producer based in New York City who was part of the original DFA crew—a crew full of highly talented individuals (LCD Soundsystem, Holy Ghost). Since working with the likes of Guerilla Toss, Nation of Language, and VHS Collection, Seiferth helped craft a worthy soundscape that throws the listener into the band’s world. Known for his prolific use of analog synths, the sounds Seiferth and Holy Wire churn out on this record feel on brand for the Brooklyn audio impresario.
Lyrically, “Worse For Wear” favors earnest sentiment. “At first, I wrote it as a letter to someone, not thinking too much about how it would fit into a song,” Paradis says, “it was very much a feeling in a particular moment.” But much like new-wave progenitors like The Smiths or Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark, it touches on a kind of irony by pitting melancholic lyrics against danceable synth-pop. “I’m here, and you’re out there / and we are both all the worse for wear,” ends the song on a bittersweet note, still longing for answers but accepting that we don’t always find them.” The words do, indeed sound as though Morrissey might intone them into a microphone.
Since joining Austin’s robust music scene, Holy Wire has found themselves with local contemporaries such as Urban Heat and Haunt Me, which capture the 80s post-punk mantra with noted modern influences from Automatic, Black Marble, and Future Islands. Since forming as a full band, Holy Wire has shared the stage with nationally renowned acts such as The KVB and Xeno and Oaklander.
After relocating to Austin in the last days of the COVID-19 lockdowns, Paradis found himself rebuilding his musical community from the ground up. Since the pandemic came with days upon days of self-reflection from many, Paradis used this energy to sculpt pieces of music that represented his journey. Then, the Holy Wire frontman began assimilating into the Austin scene, gaining collaborators and a local following that’s getting bigger by the gig.
Worse For Wear releases today, on September 14, with 7″ vinyl by Naturally Records and a cassette by Pink Noise Tapes. Holy Wire will kick off a mini-tour with a release show at Mohawk this Friday with local acts Witches Exist and Body Tape.
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