New album 'Embers' coming July 18
Happy Little Clouds sophomore album 'Embers' drops on Friday, July 18. The path that led to this moment tells a greater, more poignant story of reflection, assessment and awakening. When the band takes the stage at The Burren in Somerville the following night, on Saturday, July 19, alongside theatrical glam superstars Eddie Japan, there will be a sense of cathartic release, one building inside founder Jac Mestel since the release of the band’s debut album, Shift, nearly a decade ago.
A lot has changed since then: for Mestel (they/them), the multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and lyricist who has since come out as trans; for the band, now completed by bassist Derek Bergstrom (he/him) and drummer and percussionist Jess Townsend (she/her); and for the world in which Happy Little Clouds reside with a sense of defiance and pride.
Their collective experience has shaped these nine tracks on Embers, and the stories contained within, packed tightly in the band’s eclectic, melodic, and soulful post-grunge sound, offer an invitation to seek refuge, seek allyship, and attempt, both collectively and individually, to make sense of an insane world. The record’s title derives from a lyric in new single “Liar Fire” -- “All my body curls like embers / Up or down I’m forced to choose” – a white-hot blast of ‘70s arena-rock ambition that sets a striking tone for an album packed with definable moments.
“We really liked the symbolism of embers because it represents an intense, ephemeral light – like life,” the band states. “While an ember burns you can’t tell which way it’s going to drift. In the song, it represents a panicked moment where you are at a crossroads in life. You either choose to give into your fear or move toward love.”
A lot has changed since then: for Mestel (they/them), the multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and lyricist who has since come out as trans; for the band, now completed by bassist Derek Bergstrom (he/him) and drummer and percussionist Jess Townsend (she/her); and for the world in which Happy Little Clouds reside with a sense of defiance and pride.
Their collective experience has shaped these nine tracks on Embers, and the stories contained within, packed tightly in the band’s eclectic, melodic, and soulful post-grunge sound, offer an invitation to seek refuge, seek allyship, and attempt, both collectively and individually, to make sense of an insane world. The record’s title derives from a lyric in new single “Liar Fire” -- “All my body curls like embers / Up or down I’m forced to choose” – a white-hot blast of ‘70s arena-rock ambition that sets a striking tone for an album packed with definable moments.
“We really liked the symbolism of embers because it represents an intense, ephemeral light – like life,” the band states. “While an ember burns you can’t tell which way it’s going to drift. In the song, it represents a panicked moment where you are at a crossroads in life. You either choose to give into your fear or move toward love.”
"Clear & Present Danger"
We return with our second single of 2025, the grit-fueled “Clear And Present Danger”. A powerful message for strange times, this bold new track reflects the urgency confronting us all in today’s world. “Clear and Present Danger” is a melodic, post-grunge earworm that takes aim at narcissistic power structures, pairing sharp songwriting with emotional depth.
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