Cola embraces medieval imagery on latest single ‘Mendicant’
Fresh off the success of their sophomore album The Gloss, Montreal trio Cola returns with a bold new single, ‘Mendicant,’ a track that pushes their sound into unexpected territory.
Known for their tightly wound post-punk and poetic lyricism, Cola — Tim Darcy, Ben Stidworthy, and Evan J Cartwright — take a sonic detour on ‘Mendicant,’ layering in whistle and uilleann pipes atop their usual palette of sharp guitars and kinetic rhythms. The result is a track that feels grounded and otherworldly. Lyrically, the song reflects on the mindset of a humble beggar, delivering lines like “what was that the pope just said?” with theatrical flair.
Darcy adds:
“‘Mendicant’ came together quickly for us in our usual writing flow, but it was really asking for another element in the mix. Ben gamely took a stab at tracking whistle and Uilleann Pipes, an instrument he’s been learning in his spare time. Add that to his discogs profile friends because he laid down the heat. The lyrics are a playful investigation of being a humble beggar of sorts, a person freed from need with their aura primed to headnod to some whistle.”
Cola will bring ‘Mendicant’ and more to stages across Europe beginning May 28, with shows in Ireland, Italy, France, and beyond, before returning for North American dates in July.
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