It’s a funny old thing, intent. We start out with it, but life has a way of changing things. Such is the case with Dulakes’ new track Soulless.
By Graeme Smith
“I didn’t really have any particular message I wanted to get across when writing the song,” says songwriter Ramsay Irwin. “…Having played the song for two years now, the song has taken on its own meaning. I’ve had people come up and say to me that the song reminded them of their mum or their girlfriend or whatever which is great. It’s amazing that a song can create its own meaning like that.”
I think it’s one of the most appealing things about music, how it connects artist to listener. So many times, I’ve listened to a track and convinced myself that the lyrics are somehow about me. It speaks to how experiences can be universal. Someone, somewhere, even on the other side of the world, is feeling what you’re feeling.
I didn’t have to venture to the other side of the world to discover Dulakes. The band consisting of Ramsay Irwin, Joe Rainbow, James Gavin, and Nat Dowding, are based just down the road in Leeds.
“We met each other at uni and have been playing for about two years,” explains Irwin. “We were all good friends anyway and so it made sense for us to start a band. When we started, we were unsure what kind of sound we wanted to go for, but I think we now have a shared vision and ambition for how we want the band to be.”
Their sound puts an emphasis on feel and atmosphere. Connection plays a big part both in how their live performances connect with their audience and how it connects with their studio sound. Soulless, like the rest of their music, was recorded live.
The track has a slow, ponderous opening which gradually, inevitably develops into a first verse that’s full of emotion. Melancholic vocals purr through their story before we get a sudden ramping up of energy in the chorus. Things get raucous during this soaring melodious indie rock moment.
“I want people to feel a sense of catharsis and melancholy in the verses and then be taken aback in the choruses,” says Irwin. “I think the beauty is in the contrast.”
A track that takes its time, Soulless unfolds patiently over four minutes before getting frenetic ahead of its two-minute finale.
The band’s energy in their live performances have drawn comparisons with the likes of Wunderhorse, Smashing Pumpkins, Title Fight, and Keo. Fans of any of those artists will find a lot to love about what Dulakes are doing. “These bands all use peaks and troughs well in music,” says Irwin. “They have slower more stripped back moments, which give more power to the louder, more forceful sections. I think they all use heavy guitar tones as a way to create beauty which is something we try to do.”
It’s great to be discovering a local rock act with a strong philosophy. I was keen to understand what was next for them. “We have four more singles coming out over the next few months, and they will be packaged up as an EP in September,” says Irwin. “We have a headline show in our hometown Leeds and we also have a gig in Manchester coming up next month. We’re back in the studio in September and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling.”
To keep up to date with all Dulakes are doing, you can follow them on Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, Instagram, Songkick, and Tiktok.
Soulless is out now, and you can listen to it below.
Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator
