hard life, the moniker of Murray Matravers, today released his new single, ‘othello,’ via Island EMI. The track premiered as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record, marking Matravers’ first new material since last summer’s ‘tears’ and signaling the start of a bold, unrestrained new artistic phase following a period of profound personal change encompassing names, countries, and relationships.
‘othello’ was conceived and recorded by Matravers in Japan, where he intricately blends unconventional acoustic elements with hook-driven hip-hop influences, resulting in a distinctly revitalised artistic and emotional outlook. The single’s musical exploration and introspective lyrics transform a period marked by loss into an unexpected catalyst for growth, reflecting a nuanced perspective where life transcends simplistic binaries of “black and white,” embracing both its farcical and tragic dimensions.
Introducing new hard life music with appropriately-titled main-character energy, Murray states,
‘othello’ is a pun on the board game, but also draws from the play’s themes of trust, identity, and the destructive forces of unchecked emotions like jealousy. Relationships – whether personal, romantic, or professional – are rarely straightforward, and after making difficult decisions you sometimes cross this threshold of no return. ‘othello’ captures that moment of uncertainty, where someone leaves your life, and there’s a profound emptiness that takes over as you wallow in the unknown.
Accompanied by a striking new cinematic aesthetic that balances rawness with refinement, the release of ‘othello’ signifies the beginning of a significant new chapter for hard life, the artistic project of Murray Matravers. This new direction appears to have been forged in the aftermath of a transformative period of upheaval in Matravers’ personal life.
Having previously navigated unsteady circumstances with an often unvarnished positivity, capturing both tragic and comic moments – and experiences ranging from the easy to the legally complex – Matravers’ life seems to possess a recurring tendency to disrupt even his most carefully constructed plans. Now, with ‘othello,’ hard life’s distinctive generational songwriting and genre-spanning approach seamlessly blends a welcoming sense of familiarity with the exhilarating freedom inherent in a fresh start, positioning this British pop underdog with a newfound and compelling edge.
