‘Terry’ is taken from RULES s/t debut album, released via Soliti on the 21st August
RULES release their third single of literate electronic pop – ‘Terry’ is based on Raymond Carver’s short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” ‘Terry’ is officially out on the 18th June, whilst RULES forthcoming s/t debut album is out on the 21st August 2020.
Watch the video for ‘Terry’
RULES tell us of the lyrical arc for ‘Terry’ “The story this song is based on features two middle aged couples talking about different aspects of love. The song is an extension on the thoughts of Teresa, one of these characters, on what it might feel like to love a second time over, when the illusion of unconditional love has shattered and a feeling of detachment and commitment colour the attachment. Is that love more real than the naive, juvenile first love, or the other way around?”
INITIAL REACTION
Rumba premiered ‘Terry’ – read from here.
“..absolutely lovely synth pop tune …gorgeous melody and soaring vocals.” WYMA Blog
“They’re crafting these undeniably catch pop tunes, built around heavy synth work and melodic vocals you can’t hide from” Austin Town Hall
Listen to ‘Terry’
‘Terry’ song and video credits:
Iiti Yli-Harja: lead vocals, synth
Sarra Keppola: synth, guitar, backing vocals
Oskari Halsti: drums, backing vocals, guitar
Production and mixing: Oskari Halsti | Mastering: Jarno Alho
Video credits: Directing, choreography, editing: Mari Vakkilainen
Dancers: Pina Bounce Dance Company
Cinematography: Pekka Härkönen
Listen to previous single ‘Wendy’
Watch the video for debut single ‘Kafuku’s Wife’
Of the forthcoming debut album RULES comment “The album evokes a multitude of different worlds, the tracks journeying from ancient Greece through icy depths of the polar circle to the moors of Northern England. The songs have an irresistible pop quality to them, and are all based on characters from world literature (apart from one that is from the film Suspiria, can you spot it?) There’s also a delicious Nirvana-cover in the mix. We hope you will enjoy listening to these songs as much as we have enjoyed creating them!”
RULES : RULES (SOLITI 082)
RELEASE DATE: 21/08/2020
RULES album artwork
Kafuku’s Wife
Nils
Wendy
Laodameia
Terry
Catherine
Lounge Act
Constantia
Susie
Eleanor
Iiti Yli-Harja: lead vocals, synth
Sarra Keppola: synth, guitar, backing vocals
Oskari Halsti: drums, backing vocals, guitar
Production and mixing: Oskari Halsti | Mastering: Jarno Alho
Promo shot by Pekka Härkönen
Short Bio:
RULES are a Helsinki-based synth-pop duo that weave depth into their sweet and shameless pop-tunes. RULES’ layered songs echo with the irresistible sounds of the 80s and early 00s with a new and contemporary perspective. The lyrics of RULES music are based on characters from world literature, filling gaps, offering new perspectives and bringing forth silenced voices through each performance. Each song creates its own world with a story at the same time specific and universal. Iiti Yli-Harja (Pintandwefall) makes the songs based on lyrics by Sarra Keppola, who qualified from university just for this, studying English and world literature. Together they teamed up with Oskari Halsti (SMG, Wedding Crashers) who is behind the lush production of the songs, as well as the drums of the live set-up.
PRESS REACTION
“RULES were able to catch a Middle Eastern flavour even with synths and the structure of that first half reminds me very much of Highasakite’s ‘Iran’ with the supporting vocal not dissimilar from Ingrid Helene Håvik’s Bulgarian throat singing on that track.” Nordic Music Review
“The song provides an alternative perspective on the short story Drive My Car by Haruki Murakami, and the theme combines beautifully with the music to capture the sense of loss and search for meaning.” When You Motor Away
“Feelings overlayed with melancholy reminds somewhat of Chromatics and Beach House. When Oskari Halsti is in charge of the production, the overall outcome is groomed, international and interesting.” Alice & June
“Rarely does Finland produce such cool and smart electronic indie!” Päivän Biisit
“RULES give female characters a voice” RUMBA
” I like how the shimmering synth work sort of hangs back; it definitely swells in your ears, but it doesn’t get int he way for the performance of Iiti Yli-Harja’s vocal performance. She comes in with a hint of 80s pop nostalgia coming across like a more rehearsed Tiffany; there’s just this extreme frivolity in her voice, and I can’t pull away” Austin Town Hall
“Wendy takes up the story of J M Barrie’s female protagonist from Peter Pan. It does so with a shining glimmering synth-led track underneath it that feels irresistibly poppy.” Even The Stars (Track of the day)
‘Terry’ single sleeve