New single out September 9th

About “Suburbs”

Henry McIntyre’s new single “Suburbs” is the final in a coming of age trilogy of songs. While “Starting Over” and “Frank” had been explorations of the pressures of the transition into adulthood, “Suburbs” is a glorification of the past. The song is introduced by McIntyre at live shows as being about “watching coming of age movies during the pandemic and realizing, now at 22, I’m older than all these characters and none of that stuff will happen to me.” Written in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, the song’s lyrics reflect the longing for friendship and companionship felt at the apex of lockdown isolation. The song is a sort of musical coming of age story with the verses reflecting on specifics of McIntyre’s high school years, inspired by coming of age movies such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Ladybird, and Garden State. The lyrics touch on the menial bits of hitting the drive through, hopping fences, and standing next to a crush, along with the big moments such as graduating high school. The song’s chorus urges the importance of living in the moment and not letting the time go to waste. Sonically, the song is inspired by the uplifting, anthemic choruses of Oasis, with the driving rhythm section of the prechorus touching on 80s indie rock such as the Cure. While the song hits on new, more rock oriented sounds, it still retains the elements of McIntyre’s singer/songwriter musical DNA.

Preview “Suburbs” on Soundcloud

The song was recorded with Austin, Texas based producer and singer/songwriter, Robert Harrison. McIntyre had been a fan of Harrison’s work since 2017 after discovering his music in an article entitled “The Album Oasis Wish They’d Made.” Before meeting or working with Harrison, McIntyre was inspired by Harrison’s band Cotton Mather’s 1997 cult classic album Kontiki. The influence of Cotton Mather’s combination of lofi psychedelia and hooky power pop can be heard on McIntyre’s early releases such as “Give Me Life.” The song was recorded at Harrison’s cabin at the edge of the Texas Hill Country while McIntyre was traveling across the country. Playing along with McIntyre, multi-instrumentalist, actor, and Cotton Mather member, Darrin Murphy contributed drums. In addition, the song was mixed by Pat Dicenso. 

About Henry McIntyre

Henry McIntyre is a singer/songwriter from Boston, MA. The self proclaimed “long lost emo Beatle,” McIntyre plays a blend of indie folk and Beatlesque pop, mixing catchy melodic choruses with confessional lyrics. His sound draws to mind artists such as Elliott Smith, the Cure, and the La’s. Beginning his career at the age of 9, McIntyre played lead guitar in the rock band, Black Diamonds. In the band’s 8 year existence, they released two EPs and played venues such as House of Blues Boston and the Hard Rock Cafe. The band even earned the Guiness World Record for the World’s Youngest Professional Rock Band. As a solo artist, McIntyre has played Boston mainstays such as The Middle East Upstairs and The Jungle as well as playing as far as Nashville, Denver, and Los Angeles. His intimate debut EP, Highly Influenced, was released in 2018 followed by his next release, Box on the Ear, in 2019. McIntyre reemerged with his Beatlesque single “Starting Over” in January 2022, followed by the single, “Frank,” in May 2022. The meditative single was produced by Boston music scene veterans Dan Nicklin and Nate Leavitt at Henley Row. The next single, “Suburbs” is due for release on September 9th. Produced by singer/songwriter Robert Harrison (Cotton Mather, Future Clouds and Radar) in the Texas Hill Country just outside of Austin, the coming of age song reflects on early adolescence, completing a sort of coming of age trilogy of singles. The song features multi-instrumentalist and actor Darin Murphy on drums and mixing done by Pat Dicenso. 

Credits

Henry McIntyre – Bass, Guitar, Piano, Vocals

Robert Harrison – Production, Percussion

Darin Murphy – Drums, Percussion

Pat Dicenso – Mixing, Mastering

Lyrics

I’m fighting for my life in the Suburbs

It’s a thursday night, I’m dreaming, half alive

Now at 10PM I’m fully sober

I can’t wait to move away 

Nothing to do in the suburbs

Hit the drive through because that’s the move

Text my girlfriend back I ignore her

It hurts me now to walk away 

Let’s spend some time together

Before the time’s all gone 

Let’s spend some time together

I won’t let it go to waste

So they say 

That it will never be the same 

I will change they say it’s for the better

I don’t want to let it go to waste

There’s good things on the way 

I can wait, don’t make me wait forever

I’m fighting for my life in the suburbs

It’s graduation night, I say my last goodbye

My sixth grade crush is right behind me

My ride was an hour late

We hop the fence and look behind us

Run up the hill and enjoy the view

Wish that I could see what came between us 

I wish it hadn’t gone that way 

Let’s spend some time together

Before the time’s all gone 

Let’s spend some time together

I won’t let it go to waste

So they say 

That it will never be the same 

I will change they say it’s for the better

I don’t want to let it go to waste

There’s good things on the way 

I can wait, don’t make me wait forever