Roles announce their new EP About Death, releasing November 22—a work that stares death in the eye and says, “Sit down; we’ve been expecting you.” This EP hums in the twilight of pop, moving across a spectrum from no-wave to post-punk. The electronic focused duo lead us into the mundane strangeness of mortality, stripped bare, woven into the ordinary.
About Death pulses between dark and playful. Songwriter Louise Love, inspired by her interest in death contemplation practices, builds a journey that doesn’t turn away from death but seeks to uncover what lies beneath. With each track, she asks us to remember, to be curious, to marvel at the rhythm of a heartbeat.
The EP traverses a strange, feverish terrain, starting with the powerful ‘Oh True Nature’. Pulling from new wave currents, the track lifts listeners towards the great beyond. ‘Medium’ follows, where broken RnB grooves and arpeggiated synths conjure a dance-floor séance. Other highlights include ‘Stuff,’ an unguarded and naive view of death through a child’s eyes, and ‘Taxes,’ a raw glimpse into the pain of witnessing a loved one’s final days. The seven track EP shifts and rearranges, as death reveals itself—here—reflected in life’s many faces.
To celebrate the release, Roles will host an EP launch at the Old Bar in Fitzroy, Melbourne, on Sunday, November 24. Special guests Great Australian Bank will join for this free event, running from 4 to 6 pm—an afternoon of post-punk and synthesised sounds.
Reflecting on this journey, Louise Love shares, “Rather than conquering the fear of dying, I’ve discovered that I’ve been scared to really live. Life is often painful, but so is a life half-lived. Each day could be the last; knowing that frees you to ask—who are you, right now?”
About Death breaks the silence around life’s final curtain, revealing the beauty of a fleeting pulse. Roles challenge the pop form, crafting soundscapes that echo life’s ultimate questions: who are we, what matters, and how do we hold death close enough to feel life press back?
‘..staccato and screeching guitar riffs, cold urgent synth motifs, and skewed kazoo-like blows come in aggressively at unexpected junctures. All the while, atmospheric vocals entertain with enthusiastic fascination.’ – Catherine Gillette, WL // WH
“It’s amazing!!! ‘Stuff” is quirky and just plain fun, rounded out by the music video.” – Adele Sinnamon, Onyx Music Reviews
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