‘Utopia’ and ‘Sunny Side Up’ are the new singles by Pete Josef (Ed Motta, Roni Size, White Lamp), issued on Sonar Kollektiv. Pete Josef is not just a singer, songwriter and multi- instrumentalist from the South-West of England. His social conscience and inherent need to create, build, share and protect as well as educate himself about issues regarding the environment, society, politics, race and gender have seen all of these permeate into his musical output in recent years.
This has never been more overtly the case than with his brand new single, ‘Utopia’. The song is ultimately about “greenwashing” – the method by which businesses exaggerate their environmental credentials for financial gain, and how this trickles down to consumers. Pete for one is frustrated by how companies, for decades, have made a calculated refusal to engage with the facts about climate change.
This is reflected in the song’s lyrical content – “They doping ya, so be wise, be alive. Don’t look up, ya house is on fire.” These lyrics are inspired by the film Don’t Look Up and a famous speech by environmental activist Greta Thunberg. The ironic lyricism continues in that it’s “Gonna be the summer, the summer of our lives” reflecting on how people bask in high temperatures without under- standing why these changes are happening, and the danger it poses to our future.
In ‘Sunny Side Up’ it’s the topic of depression that comes to the fore. Despite the bleak subject matter, it’s actually a song about the importance of having people around you to support you when you’re not feeling at your best. Pete admits to suffering from anxiety for much of his life, and cherishes having his family present when he feels unable to step up as a partner or parent; when he experiences that ‘hazy funk’ in the day-to-day. In many ways it’s a love song, or at least one of appreciation for the people who carry you through those moments in your life.
Like much of Pete’s new material, the song has a retro and somewhat South American feel. For the first time in a long while, Pete chose to perform all the instrumental parts on this track himself.
Stream ‘Utopia’ and ‘Sunny Side Up’ HERE
Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff
