Nashville-via-Australia artist Josh Rennie-Hynes is set to release Day Rage in February 2022.  Today, Rennie-Hynes offers up the album’s title track.  “Day Rage” pushes the limits with lush pop arrangements over profoundly engaging songwriting. Airy acoustic strumming dances with shimmering echoes of electric guitar, all touched with tasteful electronics. Unhurried and in-the-pocket, the music serves to uplift Rennie-Hynes soaring, honeyed vocals – just rough enough around the edges to keep things interesting.

Here’s Rennie-Hynes on the single: “‘Day Rage’ is the first single to be released from my forthcoming album of the same name. It’s a song about riding the highs and lows with someone through too many late nights that often lead to days (hence Day Rage) while living in the wild world of East Nashville. Making this album pushed me further than ever before in many ways; Emotionally, musically, expressively and stylistically. I’ve transitioned into a new stage of my career that I’m really excited about and there’s only more to come.”

When Rennie-Hynes moved to Nashville in May of 2018, he wasn’t just leaving behind his homeland. He was leaving behind a solo career built on two acclaimed albums (2014’s February and 2016’s Furthermore) and his role as one half of The Ahern Brothers. A folk duo whose harmony-heavy debut album earned a four-star review from Rolling Stone, The Ahern Brothers had quickly become one of Australia’s successful exports. Yet, Rennie-Hynes was looking for a change, in both musical direction and setting.

Moving into the close-knit East Nashville community, Rennie-Hynes immersed himself in the inspiring and thriving creative scene. Newly settled and able to write daily, he got to work. With an album’s worth of songs written and his recording band assembled, he headed to Nashville’s world-famous Sound Emporium studios to record the Album live to tape over three days. In late 2019 Rennie-Hynes released the indie rock-tinged Patterns. Produced by guitarist Alex Munoz (Margo Price, Nikki Lane), Patternsmarked a distinct move away from his prior folk roots and into a fuller sound. Just as he was preparing to tour in support of the release, the COVID pandemic began to roll across the globe and lockdowns hit in the US.

What they left the studio with is a record that is imbued with an inner glow. From new wave synth sounds, to Beatles inspired hooks, to dreamy, shimmering lo-fi anthems such as Deal, to beats that simply make you groove, this album seamlessly moves between genres and feels and takes you along for the whole ride. It reminds us that no matter where things are at in this life, there is always something to celebrate and cherish, something to embody, crystallize and hold onto. Day rage was that for Rennie-Hynes, a yardstick album that allowed him to chew on ideas and concepts while moving him beyond where he’s ever been before as an Artist. It’s an enthralling album from an Artist who’s now ready to make his own mark.

Photo Courtesy: Corinne Atamaniuk