Over the years, New Years Day has been one of our favorite rock bands, not only because of their electrifying music, but also how much heart and empowering energy they bring to everything they release! The singles for their upcoming Half Black Heart album, which comes out on March 1st, have been no exception, especially the relatable ‘Half Black Heart.’ It’s a powerful reminder that everyone has their flaws, no matter how strong or perfect they may seem from afar. We love the message of self-acceptance, as well as how the duality in the lyrics and title show off how we all have brighter and darker parts to us.
And, of course, we love the tie to Ash Costello’s signature hairstyle. She usually has half black and half red, aside from when she swaps out the red for a white-blonde to be part of The Haxans. Our younger selves, who regularly wore black bracelets on one wrist and red on the other to match Ash’s hair, are thriving!
Can we talk about those lyrics for a second? NYD always have such amazing lines! One of our faves from this release is “even gods rise and fall when they think they know it all,” which reminds us of how the downfalls of many gods and characters in Greek mythology came about because of their pride. For example, Icarus’ famous wings failed him when he got too confident in his ability to fly and went too close to the sun, which melted the wax that held the wings’ feathers together. He literally fell and wound up drowning, which he could have avoided if he followed the advice that his father gave him: don’t fly too close to the sun.
Even if you have a unique gift or special power, it’s still important to be humble, kind, and respectful to others. And even if you look up to your musical heroes, they’re still human, too! Through the years, New Years Day have never been afraid to own up to their mistakes or admit to their insecurities, which is part of what’s made them so relatable. They provide a voice to those deeper parts of ourselves that we may try to hide away, but “there’s beauty in the scars,” and every part of us should be nurtured.
The message is rooted in the idea that ‘he who is without sin can cast the first stone,’ meaning that no one is in a position to judge because everyone makes mistakes. I don’t believe in the idea of a flawless human being, and this song is my way of addressing those who may expect perfection from me. Essentially, it’s a declaration that neither I nor anyone else will ever be perfect.
Ash Costello
What do you think of ‘Half Black Heart?’ How excited are you to hear the album of the same name on March 1st? Make sure you pre-save it right here, then tell us your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
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