OK, stop everything. No, really; close your other tabs and focus. This is a public service announcement from Jonk Music writer Rebecca Edwards, asking you: Has your summer started yet?
If the answer is yes, keep reading. If the answer is no, ESPECIALLY keep reading. Because Arkells’ new song “Never Thought That This Would Happen” is all you need to convince yourself that it’s already Memorial Day weekend and everything is OK in the world. It really is that good.
“Never Thought That This Would Happen,” the first teaser for the group’s much anticipated third album (title TBD), was very appropriately inspired by a music festival not far from their hometown of Guelph, Ontario. While the sound is not necessarily reminiscent of a folk festival in itself (the string quartet, cinematic set-up, and intense drum beats are not exactly characteristic of the genre), the sentiment most certainly is. Paying tribute to bonfires and bad decisions, the band writes about the track on their website, “It takes place at some point between Saturday night and Sunday morning, after all the dancing and music has finished… It feels appropriate to release this song, as we know that the summer sun and greener pastures await us all.”
It brings to mind the 6 AM watching-the-sunrise kind of joy that is both comforting and exhilarating. If there is one song to add to your summer 2014 playlist, let it be this. Also, if you’re lucky enough, go see them live this summer.