Today, Rising Brisbane-born, Sweden-based folk star Hazlett unveils his new EP 'Goodbye to the Valley Low' via Nettwerk. Alongside the record, he is sharing the official video for his new single 'Stolen Seasons'.
Following the release of his debut album 'Bloom Mountain', out earlier this year, and fresh off the back of a hugely successful UK/EU tour with Wild Rivers and Josiah & The Bonnevilles, Australian-born, Sweden-based Hazlett returns with 'Goodbye to the Valley Low' – a stunning six-track EP of delicate indie-folk brimming with personal anecdotes and showcasing the polished introspective song writing that’s already won him an army of fans.
Produced by long-time collaborator Freddy Alexander, the EP was made in an off-grid cabin on the west coast of Sweden and sees Hazlett going back to his roots with a more stripped-back and rawer sound.
The EP opens with the ethereal 'Blame The Moon,' a sonic reflection to grand plans that were never fulfilled before the acoustically-driven 'Missionary Feelings' dances around feelings of dissatisfaction and longing, with Hazlett’s plaintive falsetto reaching its peak in its climaxed final chorus. Vulnerability takes centre stage in 'Mama’s Boy' with eye-opening lyricism to dissect how “even the kind ones can break your heart,” and a beautiful dreamlike video filmed in the Swedish country side – you can watch the video here.
'Slow Running' is an exciting addition to Hazlett’s already stellar catalogue, a serene soundscape that seamlessly blends feather-light guitars with Hazlett’s harmonious vocals to deliver a soothing slice of ambient folk. The understated 'Cemetery' takes Hazlett back to his childhood; a bright-eyed kid whose universe was filled with unimaginable dreams. The atmospheric surroundings follow his timeless tone as he longs to find that feeling again, fading smoothly into the EP’s focus track and echoing finale 'Stolen Seasons'. Here he emphasises “Everything happens for a reason. But in the heat of some moments, it’s hard to not just throw your hands up in the air and shake a fist at the sky.”
Hazlett was born and raised in Australia but if the past few years are anything to go by, he’s very much bloomed in Sweden. An old friend, one big break-up and playing Oasis’ 'Wonderwall' three times a night was the unplanned cocktail of moments that saw him throw adulthood to the wayside and venture to the other side of the world.
A pocket full of nerves and a tangled mess of memories became the start of Hazlett’s unique brand of “Indie Ballroom Folk”. But everything crystallised one summer in Stockholm after finding the fabled collaborator chemistry in now close friend Freddy Alexander. A lot has changed since then and what started as a way for him to “figure out some things in his head…” has now become a whole world of music and beautiful details to move through. Emphasised by the release of his debut album 'Bloom Mountain' in early 2023.
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