Newcastle-based Diago’s new single, ‘How Long’, is a catchy indie-pop tune that encapsulates the feeling of a British summer. It has an undeniable ‘blast in the car’ sound while you turn up the volume, while driving home from a busy day in the sun. With its upbeat sound and shouting vocals, I’m sure this track will be a go to dance and sing along song for many.
This is not Diago’s first go around, ‘How Long’ being their fourth official release, their second of this year. With their indie sound and lively stage presence, along with plays on ‘BBC introducing…’, the band have amassed a fair few fans that have been eagerly waiting for ‘How Long?’ and it sure didn’t disappoint.
With the drum beat being the loudest instrument on the mix, the crashing of the symbols accompanied with the male vocals, makes the track feel reminiscent of when British Indie was at its greatest in early 2010, feeling somewhat familiar to early Catfish and the Bottleman and Sundara Karma. Diago’s choice of the metronome-esque tapping behind the verses being a staple of this early indie sound, and feeling especially reminiscent of said time. Its constant beat and catchy guitar make it an easy listen, something you’ll definitely find yourself tapping your foot to in the kitchen after it gets stuck in your head.
Its lyrics and raw vocals on the contrary seem to offer a much harsher reality than the music itself. With the repetition of the heartbreaking lyric, ‘How long will it take for this man to break?’ We can then infer this is a question he’s asking himself, knowing there is no answer to be found, creating a feeling of lost hope. As we build to the bridge, it feels as if the singer’s raw anger is encapsulated into the song, with the final ‘woah!’ before the ending guitar solo, feeling like a final burst of anger before the songs end. The lyrics aren’t hugely unalike to other indie hits, but the vocal performance helps them in hitting a little deeper than most.
The music video for ‘How Long?’ focuses heavily on the use of the instruments, however, the majority of the video interestingly, shows each member of the band individually, making it feel somewhat reminiscent to the loneliness that the lyrics seem to portray.
All in all, Diago has produced a catchy hit, not dissimilar to their other music. If you like head bopping indie tunes with relatable lyrics about the one that got away, Diago may be the band for you.
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WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR HOW LONG HERE
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