Ax and The Hatchetmen join forces with Albert Hammond Jr. on ‘Blurry Lights’
Chicago indie-rockers Ax and The Hatchetmen team up with The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. for their electrifying new single, ‘Blurry Lights,’ out now via Arista Records. The collaboration marks a full-circle moment for the band, who went from covering ‘Last Nite’ in their live sets to working with one of their musical heroes.
Produced by Jake Sinclair (Weezer, Panic! At The Disco), ‘Blurry Lights’ contrasts mellow verses with a thunderous chorus, mirroring the psychedelic haze of frontman Axel Ellis’s lyrical storytelling. Over gritty guitars, crashing drums, and a splash of brass, Ellis sings, “I don’t wanna be alone / So show me how to move my feet / I’m freaking out / Struck by these blurry lights / But I must like it cuz I keep on trying you.” The track draws inspiration from a particularly overwhelming trip to the Van Gogh exhibit in Chicago, where Ellis found himself overstimulated by swirling projections and a crowd he was convinced knew he was on mushrooms.
“The Strokes have always been at the top of our list of musical influences, so for him to track on one of our songs was a total dream scenario. The vinyl record sleeve of ‘Is This It’ that’s been hanging in my living room since I was nineteen couldn’t believe it either.”
Hammond was just as excited about the collaboration, saying:
“Jake Sinclair, Ax’s producer, is a friend and he played me the track to see if I wanted to play some guitar on it. It’s catchy and fun, so I was happy to jump in and add some parts and tones. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.”
‘Blurry Lights’ follows Ax and The Hatchetmen’s recent single ‘Stay // Honestly’ and continues their momentum from 2024’s Love Songs EP.
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