We had the absolutely amazing opportunity, to check out the new single, “Laurel”, from Boston , based high-energy funk and soul-pop group , The Far Out. You can listen to “Laurel” Here

The Far Out, are one of those bands, that make us want scream “We Love Music! “ “Laurel” is a funky, soulful track that we fall deeper and deeper in love with every time we hear it.

The Far Out’s vibrant new retro-soul single “Laurel,” is the latest slice of high-energy funk-pop from the rising Boston sextet that hits the streams today, (Friday, May 30) . “Laurel” is the follow-up to February’s supercharged single “Funkadelic Gas,” and both infectious tracks will be featured on the “New Act of the Year” recipient at the 2024 New England Music Awards’ forthcoming debut album, set for release this summer. 

“Laurel,” with its Yacht Rock cool, charismatic swagger, and alluring sax n’ brass sass, also throws it back to the golden era of ‘70s songwriting with clever lyrical wordplay and charming innuendo, juxtaposing the music’s optimistic and upbeat nature with a heartbreak situation just bubbling under the surface.

‘Laurel’ is deceptively not a love song,” says lead vocalist Olivia Lowe. “It’s about continuing to see someone romantically despite knowing that it’s going nowhere, because they will never commit to being fully or exclusively with you. The chorus ‘rest on my Laurel’ is a play on words, where it’s just easier to stay with this person rather than make the effort to leave them.” 

Lowe paints an unfulfilled picture in the lyrics that is deliberately opposed to the overall vibe of the song, which feels like the perfect summer bop to add to all our beach-going and care-free day playlists. But that’s also the point – something that feels sunny and warm on the surface may not be what it seems after a deeper dive into what’s really going on.  

“I hope that when people hear it, they dance,” Lowe adds. “But I hope that when they listen more closely to the lyrics, they understand that it’s okay to get out once something stops being fun or isn’t right for them anymore. I was able to easily write this happy-sounding, confident song because I’m firmly on the other side of the exact situation it describes.”

And for Lowe, band life in The Far Out is a happy relationship as well – and that comes out in the effortless cool and creative chemistry displayed by the collective of close friends and multi-instrumentalists, rounded out on “Laurel” by core members Ellie Dolan (trumpet, backing vocals); Ryan Fremont-Smith (bass guitar, backing vocals); Drew Phillips (drums); Colin Senechal (tenor saxophone); and Henry Zagarella (keys, organ, backing vocals). 

“Laurel” is a great balance of the sounds of the past mixed with a vibrant energy that points to the future.

Penned by Lowe, Zagarella, and Phillips, “Laurel” flexes what The Far Out does best – it cranks up the energy and creates its own mood through sheer infectiousness and positive vibes. “Laurel” was recorded with Fremont-Smith as engineer at FS Studios, with drums and mixing engineered by Sean McLaughlin at 37′ Productions. The track was mastered by Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering with assistant mastering by engineer Costanza Tini. 

“Laurel “ , from The Far Out, is a track that your ears must hear.