Deep Dive: The Rabbitts – Signs

Norwich-based duo The Rabbitts approach folk and indie from an almost experimental perspective, drawing from other genres with ease. The complex rhythms and time signatures on Signs add to its richness in terms of its sound and the urgency of its message. The duo has done a Deep Dive on the song, which will also feature up their upcoming album, Love.

Lyrics and genesis of Signs

We spent over a year writing this song and it’s fair to say that it’s been on a bit of a journey. It started with the guitar part but from there we both had competing melodic and lyrical ideas. We disagreed at first on how to proceed but in the end, we didn’t really have to make a conscious decision – it just happened over time and by now we’ve long since forgotten the alternative. For a while it was just a song about lacking direction in life but somewhere along the way it also became a song about society, and “business as usual” in the face of the climate crisis.

We’ve spent a lot of time at climate rallies and it’s heart breaking to see people, especially children terrified of the future because world leaders aren’t doing enough to tackle the issue. We don’t really want to write depressing music and although there are some pretty tense angsty moments in the track we still think it’s pretty fun. We’ve found peace and hope by embracing the unknown and embracing a lack of direction. Signs is the second single off our upcoming album Love which comes out on the 5th of May.

Instrumentation

We wanted to keep a ‘live’ feel to our album, so the core of Signs’ arrangement is the same as when we perform it live as a 4-piece band with vocals, mandolin, acoustic guitar, drums, and bass.

Recording Signs

We recorded this single along with the rest of our upcoming album over a 2 week retreat with our band at the end of last summer. We rented a large, converted chapel in the countryside and Adam Bowers captured the magic.

There was no recording equipment at the location, but the acoustics were beautiful and we were all able to stay there and immerse ourselves in the project for the whole 2 weeks. Adam brought a van load of gear including acoustic treatment and set up one of the bedrooms as a control room. It was the best 2 weeks of our musical lives.

Where does Signs fit within your overall sound?

When we first started releasing music, we didn’t involve anyone else during the arrangement process, it was just as a duo with vocals, guitar, and mandolin. In the last year we’ve entered a new chapter and put together a band – this is the first recording project we’ve done with them and we’re so excited for what’s to come. Signs is one of our more energetic and psychedelic tracks, but it contains all the elements that make it our own.

The Rabbitts play Norwich, London, and Bath this May – dates and ticket details can be found on the duo’s Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram socials.  Signs is out now to download, along with the band’s back catalogue, on Bandcamp.