For On The Record, we connected with a band whose genre-blurring sound continues to evolve in increasingly compelling ways, we’re talking about Welsh rockers Dying Habit. Hailing from Anglesey, the four-piece outfit (Nathan Jones, Alan Hart, Daniel Garner and Mark Jones) have just released their striking new single ‘Three Letter View’. This track fuses thoughtful subtlety and visceral power in order to carefully explore themes of personal perception and emotional vulnerability. Dying Habit have built up a reputation for their versatility as they draw from a wide array of sonic influences, from nineties alt-rock to grunge to prog-rock to metal to indie-rock. This new track also comes ahead of the band’s third album, There Is No Sky, and it’s a tantalising preview of what’s to come. To build up even more anticipation for that record, we had a virtual sit down with Dying Habit to dive into the meaning behind ‘Three Letter View’, how metaphysical ideas shaped the lyrics and what it’s like crafting music as a true collaborative unit. Without further ado, let’s meet the band!
Welcome to Unrecorded! For those who aren’t already familiar with Dying Habit can you introduce yourself?
We are a four piece rock band from Anglesey in North Wales, Nathan Jones on Vocals, Alan Hart on Guitars, Daniel Garner on bass and Mark Jones on Drums. We have been together and releasing music since 2018 and are now preparing to release our third album THERE IS NO SKY later this year. We are massively passionate about what we do and I think that reflects in the music. We fuse all kinds of rock from 90s alt rock and grunge to elements of indie rock, prog rock, psychedelic, metal, punk and more..
Can you unpack the meaning behind the distinctive title ‘Three Letter View’?
Three Letter View is a title that explores the feeling of narrow-mindedness, when we only see things on the surface and accept what we are told without questioning it further. As a society most of us believe what we think is the truth which in turn keeps us all under a level of certain control.
The song explores vibrational frequencies and emotional dimensions, so what inspired you to tackle such metaphysical themes?
Everything vibrates, each cell in our bodies will vibrate and the whole universe is vibrating. Things are only visible to each other if they are vibrating on the same frequency including emotions. I find this very interesting and it inspired me to write these lyrics
While meaningful, the lyrics also carry an ambiguity, so was this a purposeful choice so that listeners can apply them to their own experiences?
Yes this was done on purpose, I always leave an element of mystery in my lyrics and room for the listeners to apply them to their own life experiences
What kind of emotional or mental state were you as a band channeling when writing this track?
I think as a band we are at a very happy time in our lives, full of hope, positivity and inspiration which has been reflected in almost every song on this album.
Would you say that one band member had more impact on this track or is it a true collaborative effort?
I would say its most definitely a true collaborative effort. Each one of us always bring our own emotions and ideas into all the songs we do. You get more interesting results with four peoples inputs than just one person doing everything.
How do you balance between melody and force in the studio?
I think we naturally tend to write pretty melodic stuff but at the same time there is never any shortage of riffs or interesting musical ideas. It varies from song to song and depends on the emotions and vibe we are trying to get across. But I would say this album leans a little more towards the melodic end of things compared to ‘The Chaos of Silence’
Has working with producers like Al Groves or Russ Hayes influenced your approach this time around?
Working with Al on ‘Directions’ was great but I think we benefitted a lot by working with Russ again, this being our second album together. Knowing how he works helped make us more prepared and confident this time around. It was a really straight forward and enjoyable process which is reflected in the end product.
Do you see this single as a continuation or break from your previous work, like the 2024 album The Chaos of Silence?
I think ‘Three Letter View’ was our take on a direct catchy ‘pop’ song but yes, as a whole, this album is defiantly a natural evolution or continuation from the last one. I would say that this group of songs came together quicker and more coherently than the songs which ended up on ‘The Choas of Silence’ so I think that has given the album a better flow and togetherness while still being full of surprises and variety.
What’s next on the horizon for Dying Habit?
We have a few gigs lined up locally which we are looking forward to and will be adding to these so please give us a follow on socials and keep up to date with that. There will also be more singles and the album to come before the end of the year so it’s a exciting time.
You can also listen to ‘Three Letter View’ in our Indie Rockers playlist.
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