Hands Like Houses are stepping deeper into the shadows with the announcement of their new EP Lótus, arriving May 22nd via Civilians.
Alongside it comes ‘DEAD’, a heavy, introspective cut featuring Dream On Dreamer that sharpens the darker edge the Canberra band have been leaning into.
This isn’t a pivot, it feels like a continuation of a slow burn.
‘DEAD’ digs into emotional burnout
‘DEAD’ sits in a bleak but familiar headspace, unpacking the quiet ways people keep themselves afloat while falling apart underneath.
“We bend the truth, numb the doubt, and call it strength so we don’t have to face how empty things can feel,” the band explain (per press release)
“We build a life that looks held together, then act surprised when it still feels bare inside. The dread in this song isn’t dramatic, it’s familiar, routine, something we learn to live with. Saying out loud that everything is already hard enough, and pretending otherwise is part of what’s been breaking us.”
It’s not melodrama, it’s that low, constant pressure a lot of people carry without saying it out loud.
Hands Like Houses x Dream On Dreamer ‘Dead’ video
A darker chapter taking shape
‘DEAD’ joins ‘Flowers’ and ‘Warning Signs’ on Lótus, the latter also featuring Dream On Dreamer, across the EP, Hands Like Houses are leaning into themes of mental strain, self awareness and the balancing act of holding it together.
More than 15 years in, they’re not chasing the same sound that put them on the map, this feels more stripped back emotionally, even when the instrumentation swells.
Listen to ‘Dead’ on your streaming outlet of choice here.
The Lótus Tour kicks off this month
The release lines up with The Lótus Tour, which sees Hands Like Houses reunite with Dream On Dreamer for a national run this month, they’ve also opened the door for local artists to join the lineup, locking in a mix of emerging acts across each stop.
It’s a move that feels consistent with how the band have always operated, less gatekeeping, more building something around them, with tickets already moving, this run looks set to pull together both long time fans and a new wave coming through.
Tour Dates – The Lótus Tour (with Dream On Dreamer)
- Thursday, April 16th – Canberra, The Baso
- Friday, April 17th – Sydney, Manning Bar
- Saturday, April 18th – Brisbane, Princess Theatre
- Sunday, April 19th – Sunshine Coast, Kings Beach Tav
- Friday, April 24th – Melbourne, 170 Russell
- Saturday, April 25th – Adelaide, UniBar
- Sunday, April 26th – Perth, Magnet House
Pick your tickets up here.
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