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Rushes Returns with Release of ‘Wide Eyed’

April 30, 2021

Alternative pop artist Rushes returns with his brand new single ‘Wide Eyed’ and it’s accompanying music video, set for release on April 30th. ‘Wide Eyed’ marks the first release taken from Rushes’ upcoming project ‘Glowchild’ out later this year.

‘Wide Eyed’ is Rushes’ first release following the success of his debut EP ‘Glimpse’ in 2019, which hit over 1.5 million streams and was included on some of Spotify’s biggest playlists. The track is a methodical examination of an artist consumed by a sense of his own self-doubt. The lyrics of the song delve into the concept of attachment and exploring the negative impact self-doubt plays when it comes to cutting ties with the past. Rushes explains, “You linger and are constantly conflicted with whether or not you made the right decision. It’s aching and it feels like forever to see past the doubt that clouds over your decision.”

‘Wide Eyed’ comes after a year of lockdown and pauses when, for the first time in five years, Rushes found himself living at home in his native Skibbereen, Co.Cork. What he originally perceived as regression actually came to become something of a creative revival. “Restoring the connection I had with my home, made me grow as a person, made me feel kind of more whole again” Rushes explains.

Sonically, ‘Wide Eyed’ finds Rushes at his most emotive yet, with his soaring vocals combining beautifully with the track’s dreamy yet grainy, instrumentation. “I wanted a classic feel on the production side,” Rushes explains, “something that was quite raw, genuine and in some ways felt familiar.”

The accompanying video shot by Eddie O’Flaherty and Stephanie Naughter (Jafaris, Soulé) showcases Skibbereen and the local areas where Rushes grew up. The motif of the suit against the atypical green surroundings, encapsulates the track’s feelings of uncertainty and imbalance. “I think the video depicts the narrative of the track,” Rushes explains, “you’ve cut a connection but now you’re on your own. It’s like wearing the suit and yet having nowhere to go. I’m wearing my dad’s old suit, I found in the attic, but it felt right.”

The video was edited by Rushes who, with lockdown, had a lot of extra time on his hands and wanted to learn a new skill. He wanted to really showcase Skibbereen through his own eyes. “This was very much a DIY project,” Rushes explains, “I had no idea how to edit videos, but I wanted it to come from me to keep that closeness of feeling.”

‘Wide Eyed’ is the introduction to a more mature and introspective artist, one who’s taken lessons learned in the past and built upon them. ”The songs are like my superpower”, Rushes adds of the creative process, “they give me the confidence to really show myself more seriously.”

Rushes has previously been named as a 2019 RTÉ2FM Rising Artist and One To Watch by The Irish Times and Red Bull Magazine. Spending 2019 playing some of Ireland’s biggest festivals including Other Voices and Body & Soul. In the same year, he also sold out his debut headliner show in Whelans, with support on the day from Dublin hip-hop artist Malaki.

‘Wide Eyed’ marks the welcome return of an artist at his creative prime, as Rushes takes centre stage to no doubt make his mark on 2021.

Listen: https://ffm.to/wideeyed-rushes

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