hard life
Lazy, jazz-flecked indie pop that feels like a slow Sunday in the suburbs. Conversational vocals and hazy grooves for when life feels a bit too much.
Lazy, jazz-flecked indie pop that feels like a slow Sunday in the suburbs. Conversational vocals and hazy grooves for when life feels a bit too much.
Hard Life creates a sound that is essentially the musical equivalent of a shrug and a sigh, but one that is deeply melodic and rhythmically infectious. It is a blend of slacker-rock nonchalance and sophisticated R&B grooves, characterized by Murray Matravers' conversational, almost-mumbled vocal delivery that makes every song feel like a late-night voice note from a friend.
What sets them apart is the seamless integration of organic instrumentation, particularly the prominent use of saxophone and keys, with the dusty textures of lo-fi hip-hop. They manage to capture the specific anxiety and boredom of modern British life without ever sounding heavy-handed, opting instead for a breezy, sun-drenched aesthetic that masks a sharp, observational wit.
Start with 'Life's a Beach' to hear their most polished realization of this sound. It perfectly balances their penchant for catchy pop hooks with the underlying jazz and funk influences that give their music its unique, laid-back swing.
hard life (stylised in all lowercase), formerly known as Easy Life, is an English alternative indie pop group formed in Leicester in 2017. They came second in the 2020 edition of the BBC's Sound of..., an annual music poll of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. Their third mixtape, Junk Food, reached No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart a day after its release. Their debut studio album, Life's a Beach, was released on 28 May 2021. The band ceased performing under the Easy Life name in October 2023, after they announced that they were being sued by easyGroup over the use of the "easy" name and were financially unable to contest the dispute in court. In June 2024 the band returned under the new name of Hard Life.
Shares indie pop, contemporary r&b, funk (subgenres); lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style)
Shares lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style); indie pop, contemporary r&b, lo-fi hip-hop (subgenres)
Shares lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style); wistful, playful, bittersweet (moods)
Shares lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style); indie pop, contemporary r&b, lo-fi hip-hop (subgenres)
Shares wistful, playful, melancholic (moods); lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style)
Shares indie pop, contemporary r&b, lo-fi hip-hop (subgenres); lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style)
Shares lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style); wistful, playful, bittersweet (moods)
Shares wistful, playful, melancholic (moods); lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style)
Shares indie pop, contemporary r&b (subgenres); lo fi, bedroom production, analog warmth (production style)
Shares wistful, playful, melancholic (moods); indie pop, downtempo (subgenres)
Shares sunday morning, bedroom production, coffee shop, indie pop (atmosphere)
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