EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Dianne Swann Unveils Fiery New Single ‘These Are the Days’

Dianne Swann unveils her new single These Are the Days – watch it first, here on The 13th Floor.

Here’s what the record company tells us.

‘These Are The Days’ is the compelling new solo single from The Bads frontwoman Dianne Swann, whose message is as urgent as its propelling rhythm. The poignant opening line ‘Gone are the days we can mistreat her with no consequence’ is a hard-hitting truth about our relationship with Papatūānuku. Arriving with a thought-provoking lyric video, “These Are The Days’ is an anthem for the age, highlighting the realities of climate change, mass consumption and over population.

As Dianne explains:

“I wrote These Are The Days in January this year (2020) around the time the skies turned orange and then dark brown in West Auckland. It was the middle of the day in summer, and the sky became so dark I had to turn the house lights on.  It soon spread across the whole city, an alarming result of the bush fires that were raging in Australia at that time. I looked at a map that indicated how far the smoke was travelling and saw that it was reaching the skies as far away as South America.

This was such a sad and sobering day. Torrential rain and wild storms followed soon  after and I had such a strong feeling – this is really happening, and it is happening fast. Mother Earth is fighting back.”

The chorus urges “People! Get used to the new world” – a strong message to humanity. Our impact on the planet is very real; the predicted changes are accelerating and have now arrived – somewhat sooner than anticipated. We need to take collective action now, not work toward some future date.

Featuring Dianne on vocals and guitar along with Chris O’Connor (drums), Ben King (bass & guitar) Dave Khan (keys), Sandy Mill (vocals), and Brett Adams (guitar),  the arresting song was engineered by Tom Broome and mixed in the UK by Steve Power (Blur, Baby Bird, Julian Cope, Robbie Williams, British Sea Power).

Dianne Swann is one of Aotearoa’s most prolific singers and songwriters. She began her career in the mid-80s fronting the band Everything That Flies and singing with vocal supergroup When The Cat’s Away.  Then, in the early 90s she relocated to London where  she formed The Julie Dolphin with Ex-Mocker Brett Adams. After their first EP Roses was released in 1992, the following year saw their debut album Lit released to critical acclaim with lead single ‘Birthday’ receiving coverage from NME and spins on American college radio. During this time The Julie Dolphin embarked on their own headline tours and toured the UK for two months as main support for Radiohead. This led to Dianne recording with Radiohead providing backing vocals for ‘How Can You Be Sure’ the b-side to “Fake Plastic Trees’. The Julie Dolphin also recorded an as- yet unreleased album under the name Boom Boom Mancini.  In 2003, Dianne relocated back to New Zealand where she and partner Brett Adams formed alt/rock duo The Bads who have to date, released four albums to critical acclaim.

‘These Are The Days’ is the second release from Dianne’s forthcoming debut solo album after first single ‘Show Your Heart’ was released in April of this year.

It is a timely call to action. A global enlistment for a global battle. One we can’t afford to lose.

THESE ARE THE DAYS IS OUT NOW.
AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING/PURCHASE HERE.
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO HERE