On the meaning behind the track, Biarritz:

Dan Lyons: Biarritz is one of the first songs I wrote for the album. I wanted the verses to tell a story – for the song to have a beginning, middle and an end – but also to leave room for whoever’s listening to draw from their own experiences and decide what it means for them. On the surface, it’s about a lopsided romantic relationship with an abusive and dismissive partner and the eventual, inevitable downfall of that relationship. The motions one goes through when constantly striving for attention and affirmation from someone (or something) that is unwilling or incapable of giving it can be at the very least trying and the worst, fatal. It’s a very human condition and I think everyone has been there in one way or another… We always end up desperately clinging on to the past, to all the ‘good’ bits and ignoring the things that hurt us. It’s survival instinct. On the surface of this song, the past we’re looking back at is a two week holiday to the South of France…

The song was co-written by my friend Sacha’s father, François, whilst I was staying with them in Paris. They’re both from Biarritz. In terms of production I wanted the song to be really familiar, a soundtrack to a French café. Musically it’s a bit of a tongue-in-cheek homage to all things ‘Français’. Chris Hayden, who produced the album, did an amazing job of capturing that. All the music was all played live, with me and Clémence doing our vocals afterwards.

Asking Clémence to sing the song with me completed the picture perfectly, she has an amazing, beautiful and eerie voice that really cuts through and creates an uneasiness throughout the whole thing. She recorded her vocals in the desert where she lives in Agadir.

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