New single is taken from forthcoming Dreamers Are Waiting album
Crowded House have revealed their new single “Playing With Fire,” which is the latest release from the band’s forthcoming seventh-studio album, Dreamers Are Waiting, out on June 4th via EMI Music Australia. “Playing With Fire” is accompanied by a music video directed by Simon Mark-Brown, which features a full-band performance set within a dream-like sequence.
“This song was formed out of a Crowded House jam, live in the studio but then evolved its character through many twists and turns during quarantine in 2020,” shares Neil Finn. “‘Playing With Fire’ carries within it the contradiction I often feel on joyous occasions, the presence of hope together with an impending sense of doom.”
Since having just completed a hugely successful tour of New Zealand earlier this year, Crowded House has continued to usher in a series of new music, including their recent single “To The Island,” along with two remixed versions of the track – Both the Tame Impala and Unknown Mortal Orchestra remixes are set to appear on an upcoming 7’’ vinyl via the band’s online store.
Crowded House is a long standing and much-loved vehicle for the song writing talents of Neil Finn. Formed in Melbourne Australia in 1985 out the ashes of New Zealand’s Split Enz by Neil, Paul Hester and Nick Seymour, their eponymous self-titled debut album on Capitol Records went on to global success with the hits “Don’t Dream It’s Over” and “Something So Strong.” Those songs and many that followed are still resonating with audiences today, the former in particular being one of the most covered songs of the last 20 years. The band’s first incarnation lasted from 1985 through 1995 with four studio albums and enjoyed much success worldwide, becoming particularly beloved for their freewheeling and interactive live shows. This lineup said farewell to the world on the steps of the Sydney Opera House in 1996 with a now legendary performance in front of 150,000 people.
In 2005 following the tragic death of Paul Hester, Finn and Seymour felt emotionally compelled to bring Crowded House back, to put some more good history, as they described it, into the story of the band. Drafting in new drummer Matt Sherrod and with long time touring member Mark Hart they released the album Time On Earth to critical acclaim and toured the world. Another album, Intriguer, was recorded in 2009 and Crowded House was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2016, at the same time reprising its farewell shows at the Sydney Opera House with three nights of stunning performances.
