MONOWHALES
Jan 17, 2020

“RWLYD (Really Wanna Let You Down)” is the newest single from MONOWHALES out now via Fake Friends. This track sees the band traversing new sonic territory, combining heavy bass guitar, pounding drums, and shimmering synths to create a backdrop for the song’s infectious hooks. Produced by Ryan Worsley (Dear Rouge, Brave Shores), it was conceived just before leaving on the tour that supported the release of “Control Freak,” a time that saw many members of MONOWHALES struggling with their mental health and questioning their future as a band.
Says guitarist Zach Zanardo on the recording process, “Ryan Worsley flew in from Vancouver to produce ‘RWLYD.’ We wanted him to experience the frigid Toronto winter that is embodied by the cold synth sounds of the track. Recording was quick and easy, with lots of inspiration. Zero beer this time, but tons of toys to layer into the arrangement.”
"Really Wanna Let You Down" encapsulates the feeling of relief and empowerment from “pushing back.” Drummer Jordan Circosta explains, “Every step of the way we've dealt with pressure from people around us, the industry as a whole, and our own selves pushing us to sound a bit more like this, look a bit more like that, lose weight, change our hair, etc. Sometimes, the hardest expectations to contend with are those we place on ourselves."
“Jordan and Zach brought this song into rehearsal one day and as soon as they played it, I felt connected to it,” says Monowhales singer Sally Shaar, “I loved the fresh electronic sounds and how they blended in with that thick guitar tone. The first verse was gold, it was both lyrically and melodically catchy. I immediately felt inspired to write the second verse on the spot and thought the song needed something that would get the fans engaged in our live shows. This is where the ooo’s in the post chorus come in. We jammed it that day and I was just improvising having a laugh and ended up singing the post-chorus melody. It stuck! Once that was in there, the song felt so damn breezy and fun to play. I think we were able to capture the attitude instrumentally and it really encompasses the playfulness of the lyrical and melodic content. Short story long, RWLYD bounces but it also bites.”
MONOWHALES was first formed in Toronto in 2017. In 2018, the quartet released their 6-song EP, “Control Freak.” This collection spawned multiple singles that received commercial radio play across Canada. The band showcased new material in Toronto to a sold-out Horseshoe Tavern crowd during Canadian Music Week last year and were awarded the Jim Beam INDIE Award for Best Alternative Artist/Group of the Year.