After a legal battle with easyGroup, the band formerly known as Easy Life have returned under the new name of Hard Life with their new single, ‘Tears’. Frontman Murray Matravers has said he does not want people to read too much into the name, but his bandmates unanimously chose it, and it seemed fitting, as the band has had a difficult year. In an interview with NME, Matravers said they were happy with the name, it was funny, and many people resonated with it.
Last year, Easy Life played their final gig under that name without a fair trial in the High Court. They announced that they would be surrendering their band name due to a lack of finances to pursue it in court, before playing a sold-out farewell gig in London, which saw the crowd lead chants of “fuck EasyJet”.
Now the band is back and recharged under the name Hard Life, and their debut single is the candid ‘Tears’. The song reflects on the struggles of the past year, and says, “it’s a hard life, I can’t lie.” Matravers told NME the song summed up much of what he was going through, but in a positive way. For a while, the pressures of the legal battle impacted his ability to be creative. However, after Matravers and his producer and writer, Rob Norton, went away for the weekend to “make pressure with low pressure,” they made ‘Tears’.
Matravers said he hopes their new music will start discussions about systemic issues. He said he wants to achieve success entirely on his band’s own terms. He added, “We know we’re always going to be compared in some way and that’d be great if people are inspired to make changes.”
The band is currently rehearsing for their upcoming tour and working on new music, which they want to release with integrity. Matravers stressed the need for more diversity in the music industry, saying it is time for white men to step aside and allow others into the scene.
Hard Life continues to evolve and has put the legal battle behind them. Though their name has changed, their unique sound and artistic approach remain. The band has entered a new chapter and, with their upcoming music, has the potential to spark meaningful conversations and challenge the ills of the music industry
Read the full article on NME here: Read More