Waking April are feeling Mile High on their soaring and soulful new synth-pop single — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The first single from the Raleigh alt-pop duo’s upcoming debut album Fear of Failure, Mile High is a layered and nuanced love song folded into a lush and dreamy soundscape. Lyrically, it’s a simple picture of feeling elevated and high on love, but underneath the simplicity is a description of how some love stories can turn toxic and unhealthy. “The main pad sounds that start the song come from Native Instruments’ Kinetic Treats, which blends synthesizers with samples of children’s toys,” says bandmember Alex McKee. “The result is a buzzy weird combo of glitchy goodness.”
For Waking April, Fear of Failure is the culmination of a lifetime’s work. A couple since high school and bandmates since college, Bethany and Alex McKee have structured their entire adult lives around crafting Waking April’s uplifting yet thought-provoking signature sound. Tackling timely and widely resonant issues of mental illness and religious trauma while artfully blending digital and organic sounds, Fear of Failure was produced in Nashville by Mark Watrous (Shins, Raconteurs) and features members of Delta Rae and The Whigs / Eagles of Death Metal.
Both classically trained pianists, the McKees evolved through various lineups and genres before settling on the electro-pop that they increasingly found themselves moved by — acts like Phantogram, Metric, Chvrches and Broods. They announced their new sound and two-piece incarnation with 2019’s intoxicating Stretch and have since released a string of self-produced singles and earned a reputation for high-energy live performances tingling with a unique, innate chemistry.
Mental health and religion are subjects frequently addressed in Waking April’s lyrics. “Alex was diagnosed bipolar, and I struggle with chronic depression,” offered vocalist/lyricist Bethany. “Religion had a huge impact on our upbringings and this album reflects our growth out of unhealthy things that don’t work for us anymore. I hope that describing our experiences is helpful to people dealing with similar things, to know that there’s someone who can relate.”
In 2023, Waking April connected with producer Watrous. Recording at his Strange Attraction studio that summer elevated their sound, built around Alex’s meticulous sound design and Bethany’s crystalline vocal timbre, without compromising its essence. Echoes of their earlier grunge and folk-rock influences linger, but draped in edgy electronic soundscapes, throbbing beats, and engulfing atmospherics.
“It was not a transformation — Mark breathed life into what was already there,” said Alex. “He added acoustic elements and more real instruments.” These include prominent guitars, a grand piano, and an antique organ. Fear of Failure is further made visceral by live drums from Julian Dorio (Whigs / Eagles of Death Metal) and Mike McKee (Delta Rae — and Alex’s brother).
“When I hear something that I connect with, it’s very, very deep,” Alex concluded. “We want other people to experience that sense of connection from our music and lyrics.”
Check out Mile High above, hear more from Waking April and peruse their tour dates below, and join them on their website, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Waking April on Tour
Aug. 8 | Athens, GA – Buvez
Aug. 10 | Charlotte, NC – Petra’s
Aug. 16 | Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
Aug. 24 | Raleigh/Durham, NC Sofar Sounds
Aug. 30 | Nashville, TN – The East Room
Sept. 7 | Raleigh, NC – Ruby Deluxe (Hopscotch Fest day-party)
Oct. 18 | Raleigh, NC – NC State Fair
Nov. 2 | Cary, NC – Bond Brothers Eastside
