SHACKS & PALACES RETURNS WITH UPLIFTING NEW SINGLE ‘GOD MADE YOU STRANGE’, WITH VIDEO

“Shacks & Palaces sounds like if MGMT were actually made up of Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock and The New Pornographers’ A. C. Newman. Aherne utilizes a slightly off-kilter cadence on the verses, reaching high for a hook of pure indie pop bliss as the synths finally take over for the chorus.” – Consequence of Sound

The Temper Trap‘s Jonny Aherne has released the third single from his new solo project Shacks & Palaces today. Timely in its celebratory spirit, ‘God Made You Strange’ is a joyous and infectious anthem of self-acceptance.

“‘God Made You Strange’ is about letting go of the trappings of social acceptance or the rejection that houses you! And when I say you, I also mean me! It’s about embracing all of those unique things that put you outside the box, the beauty of your authenticity and nature … and not hiding away.

“I started writing this song knowing, it could easily be a letter to my teenage self or to my son or just plain old anyone with shoes. High school to me, felt like I was walking down a broken escalator, in a busy mall while (for some reason) just in my underwear, as people all around me started coming over to point and laugh. I was super awkward and I was uncertain of my future. I was dropping out of school, failing my classes, pretending I needed to go to the bathroom just to breathe. God Made You Strange is a call out to anyone who needs to keep stepping out, a little bit of encouragement… it’s a personal anthem of some my story.”

The song comes accompanied by an official music video directed by Andrew Sundberg (pre-COVID). Through the video, Jonny embraces his oddball intuition across a hearteningly vibrant New York City, his longtime base from which he recently relocated to Portland, Oregon. It was premiered by US publication Atwood Magazine, who described it as “An indie pop anthem of self-love and acceptance, ‘God Made You Strange’ is a catchy, groovy reminder to own our identity and embrace our unique sparks for making us who we are.”

Today’s release follows earlier songs ‘Once Upon A Hilltop’ and ‘Alone Together’, from Shacks & Palaces, two colourfully spirited tunes premiered at Billboard and Consequence of Sound respectively.

The Australian-born, Brooklyn-based artist creates buoyant, folk-informed indie pop, sparkling with likenesses to eclectic icons from Modest Mouse to Beach Boys, Dr. Dog to Hamilton Leithauser. The music ranges from infectious to truly exultant, a blissful blend of bouncing melodies, boomerang hooks and colourful production. Aherne’s voice —  a jubilant, stony sort of roar — is recognisable from his contributions to the mid-aughts sensation, but here rings absolutely reckless with spirit.

LISTEN/WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CX1LqXonRs