"Throwing shade" isn't usually a term commonly associated with those who veer towards the more mellow end of the musical spectrum, but Sweat's addictively smooth current release "Number One" is described by the band's joint guitarist and vocalist Georgia Gleason as just that.

Borne from a clapback moment of realisation that that seemingly awesome person you've been seeing perhaps isn't quite the cure for what ails you right now, "Number One" is a tongue-in-cheek ode to those rare times you manage to get yourself away from a potentially regrettable relationship or situation before the real kick of hindsight sets in a few years later.

Based around the pretentious, tired teachings of an ex-lover, the chorus of "eat less/smoke cigarettes/be weak" is a kiss off to bad advice and potentially poisonous relationships, slinking along to seductive guitairs and sighing vocals.

The now Montreal-based Sweat began playing music together in basements and DIY spaces in October 2015. With a catalogue of eclectic influences ranging from pop rock to country (via the constantly iconic West Coast grunge scene), "Number One" is an airy ramble through the confidence you often unexpectedly gain when you realise that you have the upper hand in a relationship, and the sigh of relief that comes with the rare occasions when calling it quits is a fairly un-heartbreaking moment.

Robben Lent, lead singer and guitarist, says: "I wrote this song in a frenzied but fleeting moment of intense self-love. I was having a moment of repelling and rejecting a love interest that was probably poisonous.

"The chorus, 'eat less/smoke cigarettes/be weak' is something that he said to me. I found it so absurd and pretentious that I wrote the entire song around it. I am trying to throw shade at him ("you lack the thrust I need/don't know why you would dispose of me") because I kind of think that I am more interesting than him, and he would be lucky to get with me.

"It's the first song I've ever written and it was a very cleansing experience. Robben and I jammed on it and he added that super sexy second guitar part and then the whole track felt very right and much more complete."

Sweat's self titled debut, described by the band under the extremely believable tagline of "music to make out to", is released on 2 April via Human Sounds Records.

April



8 - La Plante​in Montreal, Quebec

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