Single Spotlight: Hometown – MARTYY & Chasing Abbey

In an ever growing world where new music is constantly being released, it pays off to stand out from the crowd. The ever popular sneak peak snippets can sometimes get lost in the mass uploads on social media platforms. So, bringing something original to these platforms is key to standing out in the crowd. A little over a month ago Chasing Abbey did just this by releasing what became known as Wednesday Womper. These videos were reworked iconic classics the guys had enhanced by adding their own spin to the song with the snippets being released on their social media platforms. 

Now, you are probably asking yourself how does this differ from a sneak peak of a new song being released? Here’s where things get interesting. Not only did they include the end product, they talked and showed the process in these videos. I’m a sucker for a good behind the scenes video of ‘the process’ so you can say I was hooked from the very first track and didn’t mind being Rick Rolled by Chasing Abbey.

Although it seemed the lads were having fun creating these Wednesday Womper, each video began to build a buzz that something different was coming. This resulted in their latest single ‘Hometown’ being released on July 8th.  Collaborating with Irish DJ and music producer Marty Guilfoyle, the Chasing Abbey lads took Marty’s hit single ‘Hometown’ (released back in April of this year) and reworked it to clearly leave their own mark on this track. 

From the very first vocal drop the listener is hit with Chasing Abbey’s deeper vocal choices compared to ‘Hometown’ previous releases. Keeping the lyrics from the original version helps the listener to pick out what the lads have changed when it come to pitch and arrangement  in order to make this aspect of the track completely their own. However, the distortion (whether it was caused by the drop in pitch or done on purpose) can really make listening to and comprehending the lyrics a tad trickier.

While comparing ‘Hometown’ to previous iterations can help listeners notice what’s different, it is easier to identify typical characteristics that make this single a Chasing Abbey hit. Firstly, the infectious beat that result in the listener not being able to resist bopping along! In true Chasing Abbey fashion, the lads have stripped the original track straight down to the bare bones and built it back up with signature catchy beats alongside aspects of MARTYY’s original work. A number of people would argue a lot of Chasing Abbey songs sound the same but ‘Hometown’ is a clear example of how the lads have a formula for creating something they find catchy and know will work. This track is more a display of what Chasing Abbey are capable of in a production role rather than as lyricists and musicians outright. It shows their capabilities as collaborators as well as their abilities in production.

Secondly, the use of repetition. The holy grail of songs is how the use of repetition can hook the listener in or push them away entirely. With ‘Hometown’, Chasing Abbey have created a real earworm of a repetitive loop from their infectious beats that I am not afraid to admit to humming while dancing by myself in the most random of places (think while carrying out odd jobs in work and getting caught by co workers). This repetition is almost hypnotic and, coupled with the pitched down vocals, it means that the song really gets stuck in your brain.

Lastly, it’s the first release by Chasing Abbey that I can see working exceptionally well in a nightclub. This, of course, does come down to the fact this is exactly what MARTYY intended it to be when the track was released first. However, with Chasing Abbey’s take on the track I feel ‘Hometown’ has seen a new lease of life that will make even the most reluctant dancer bop along. 

Hometown is out available to stream on all streaming platforms.