Track of the Day: Hospital Corner – Bad People (2024)
Some musicians tend to opt for a single genre; they find their comfort zone and experiment within it – not Hospital Corner. The brainchild of singer-songwriter Chris Finn, UK-based Hospital Corner pushes musical boundaries with its eclectic, experimental, genre-diverse sound. Dabbing into the realm of indie-rock, alternative rock, grunge and folk-rock, the group’s music appeals to audiences of various preferences. Moreover, their melodies merge a vintage tone with contemporary edginess carrying a silvery thread of music across decades. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Bad People’.
Following their critically acclaimed 2023 EP, Speaking New Languages, ‘Bad People’ has Hospital Corner speaking a new language with their music. Joined by Robbie Threlfall (guitars and keyboards), Gordy Burn (bass), John Alexander (drums), and backing vocalist Kirstie Maclean, the new track is a bold combination of different styles in a single four-and-a-half-minute tune. Leaning toward the rock sounds of the 90s, slips of indie-rock cling to an alternative rock melody while Finn’s vocals add the swagger of Bruce Springsteen lilted by a folk-rock shimmer.
Known for intimate stories brought to life in moving music, Hospital Corner resonates with audiences through personal narratives; however, ‘Bad People’ has Finn taking a different stance. Instead of capturing its tale in a first-person perspective, following the lyrics is like reading a story of vulnerability, fragility, tragedy and fear. Penned from the perception of a “girl who is trapped in a deteriorating relationship which is beginning to result in violent ideations”, ‘Bad People’ delves into the intricacies of the human psyche. Interestingly, while the song has a hard-hitting intensity, its rich soothing adds comfort to the tune.
“I had a real desire to change the perspective. I’m usually a very confessional songwriter and find a lot of freedom in that for ‘Bad People’. I just wanted it to be about someone else. As with most of my writing, it isn’t strictly about one thing, more an amalgamation of things both real and imagined. I tried to keep what this bad person has done open to interpretation, I’m sure we’ve all been both characters in this story at some point. We’re multifaceted beings, after all.” – Chris Finn on ‘Bad People’
Find out more about Hospital Corner on their X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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