Wildernesses release new music video for ‘Summertime, 1917’

WILDERNESSES have released a new music video!

The London‑based alt‑rock band have unveiled Summertime, 1917, the latest single taken from their upcoming debut album Growth, which is set to be released on March 27th via Floodlit Recordings.

Exploring themes of love and loss, Summertime, 1917 tells the story of two male soldiers in World War One, viewed through the eyes of a modern narrator who uncovers their love letters while renovating a deceased loved one’s home. The accompanying video embraces the band’s signature DIY aesthetic, directed and filmed by vocalist Phillip Morris and guitarist Sam Howe.

Speaking about the new single, Phillip explains, “I based the lyrics on a poem I wrote the year after my mum died of Motor Neurone Disease (MND). I wanted to explore the conflicting feelings I had at that time, the process of acceptance, finding reasons that everything would be OK, even as death is final. Caring for her was a privilege that allowed me to know her more deeply but I also witnessed the cruel loss of movement that ended in her death.

I never renovated her house but the imagery of reworking a space appealed to me. The song’s lyrics aimed to reflect on social issues in a literary way, rather than an overtly political way. We all know war is bad; my aim was to zoom in on two singular stories across time and make the listener feel them, rather than just consider a message.

At the time of writing it I was working as a social worker at a hospice in Hull and wanted to capture the joy and pain of speaking with elderly patients. Ageism often goes unspoken and older generations have lived experiences that younger people can only imagine. I wanted to highlight the privilege of uncovering hidden stories that are real and untold.

Musically, WILDERNESSES aim to bridge post-rock and pop structures. The second half of the track evolves into a repeated motif that serves as the narrator’s self-reflective mantra and hook, opening up as he finishes reading the letters and processes his emotions.”

Watch the official music video for “Summertime, 1917” here:

Growth is set for release on March 27th via Floodlit Recordings. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.

For more information on WILDERNESSES like their official page on Facebook.