Joseph Nash, guitarist for the London art-rock band Blue Bendy, has introduced his experimental side project Dying 4 with the announcement of an upcoming debut EP titled Perish Songs. The release arrives on September 4 via Practise Music.
Growing up in Scunthorpe, Nash found himself at the center of intense youth culture tribes. “Me and my friends would have called ourselves skaters, but greebo, mosher or emo would be heckled at us by the kids blasting hardstyle and UK garage on a speaker in Church Square in town,” he reflects. “There was a lot of this fraught counter-culture tribalism growing up in a place like that. Even when it got a bit intense, it was always exciting. Looking back, it was just various gangs of misfits making the most of growing up in a place like that.”
These influences converge on the new single “Strafe,” where layered textures create a compelling sonic landscape. Twinkly guitars sit alongside skittering beats, shimmering synths, kinetic bass riffs, and processed vocals to deliver a track that exemplifies Dying 4’s unique aesthetic.
Nash explains the genesis of the song: “Regrettable haircuts and performative book reading whilst vying for someone’s attention? ‘Strafe’ as a track is where Dying 4 began. What started as an overly involved guitar riff that I’d noodle to warm up for live shows with the band, came to life after being taken in a very non-rock music direction in Ableton. I’ve always made electronic music as a hobby, but I’m not much of a keys player. Getting out of synth-land and approaching it from guitar-world finally made it click.”
Listen below.