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Here Comes Everybody is the second studio album by Australian indie rock band Spacey Jane, released on 24 June 2022 through their own record label and AWAL.

Here Comes Everybody
Studio album by Spacey Jane
Released	24 June 2022
Recorded	2021
Studio	Empire (Brisbane, Queensland)
Genre	Indie rock
Length	42:55
Label	Spacey Jane (independent) AWAL
Producer	Dave Parkin Konstantin Kersting
Spacey Jane chronology
Sunlight (2020) Here Comes Everybody (2022)
Singles from Here Comes Everybody
"Lots of Nothing" Released: 24 June 2021 "Lunchtime" Released: 7 October 2021 "Sitting Up" Released: 10 February 2022 "It's Been a Long Day" Released: 8 April 2022 "Hardlight" Released: 19 May 2022 "Pulling Through" Released: 20 June 2022

Written and recorded in the aftermath of the band's Sunlight Tour in support of their album of the same name, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic, Here Comes Everybody peaked at number 1 on the ARIA Charts.

At the 2022 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Rock Album.[1]

The album was nominated for Australian Album of the Year at the 2022 J Awards.[2]

Background

It's been a pretty surreal journey for all of us so far, and I'm stoked to finally be making my role as manager 'official'.

— Drummer and co-manager Kieran Lama, upon announcing the band had signed to his newly formed label.[3]

Following the release of their debut album Sunlight (2020), Spacey Jane signed to drummer and co-manager Kieran Lama's management company Anybody Management on 12 February 2021.[3] On 16 June 2021, the band renewed their global record deal with AWAL, with marketing director Ben Godding stating that the label "firmly believe[d] they are now poised to break through on a global scale".[4]

Writing and recording

On 8 June 2020, in an interview in promotion of Sunlight, frontman Caleb Harper revealed that they were already working on their next album, stating, "We were in the studio in June. We're looking to basically get another record under our belts, and be as ready as possible for touring whenever that happens."[5] He detailed the pandemic's impact on the process, saying, "when we first cancelled everything, I had five weeks of literally nothing and did a lot of writing."[5]

On 29 January 2021, following their cover of the Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" on Triple J's Like a Version segment, Harper revealed in an accompanying interview that their second album was "almost completely" written. He continued, saying: "We've actually recorded a few tracks off it already, and we are about to start recording the rest of it."[6] On 28 March, Harper revealed to Honi Soit that the band were finalising tracking on the album.[7] On 9 August, the band confirmed they had "very recently" finished recording the album, sharing a photo on social media of Harper and Hardman-le Cornu alongside producer Konstantin Kersting outside Empire Studios in Brisbane, Queensland, revealing the latter had partially produced the record.[8]

Composition

On 21 January 2021, Harper revealed that "the lack of touring could influence [the band's] new material".[6] When interviewed for Honi Soit, the band revealed that they would be listening to the albums Stranger in the Alps and Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers, and Graceland by Paul Simon during their forthcoming tour.[7] Harper felt that their future live performances would be "less of a rock show", instead being "the songs for what they are."[5]

The title of the album, Here Comes Everybody, is taken from the working title of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot – a band frontman Caleb Harper claims is one of their biggest influences.[9] Harper personally sought permission from the earlier band to use the name.[10]

Lyrical themes

In an interview with Apple Music, Harper discussed the album's themes track-by-track.[11]

"Lots of Nothing", "Clean My Car" and "Haircut" discuss depression and "feeling like there's no point doing anything at all". Anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic is explored in second single "Lunchtime", which directly contrasts the fast, guitar-driven tempo. Similarly, "Hardlight" is about anxiety stemming from "that nightmare you have, through the lens of someone forgetting their lines on set".[12][13]

"It's Been a Long Day" was also written during the first COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia and focuses on its impact on the music industry - "touring stopped and the world seemed to end", Harper stated. It further discusses falling in and out of a relationship, a theme also running through "Head Above" which more specifically focuses on Harper's connection with his parents.[14][15]

"Yet" and closing track "Pulling Through" are more uplifting, with Harper saying that "after all these stories and experiences I've had, it's gonna be OK... It's hopeful".[11][16]

Release

On 25 June 2021, alongside the release of "Lots of Nothing", Harper revealed that the band weren't expecting to release the album until at least 2022.[17] In an interview with MTV Australia on 8 October 2021, the band revealed that they intended to release the album in the first half of 2022.[18] On 15 December 2021, Alex Gallagher of NME Australia confirmed that the album would be released the following year.[19] On 7 January 2022, Simon Collins of the West Australian listed the album as one of his most anticipated albums of that year.[20] On 10 February, Harper announced on Triple J's breakfast program Bryce & Ebony that the album was titled Here Comes Everybody and that it would be released on 10 June 2022.[21] However, this date was pushed back to 24 June due to vinyl production days.[22]

On 17 June 2022, the band announced via social media they would embark on a national record store tour following the album's release.[23]

On 1 July 2022, Here Comes Everybody peaked at number 1 on the ARIA Albums and Australian Albums Charts.[24]

Promotion

Singles

Here Comes Everybody was preceded by six singles.[14]

"Lots of Nothing" was released as the lead single on 24 June 2021,[12] and was first performed at the Fremantle Arts Centre during the band's Sunlight Tour.[25]

"Lunchtime" was released as the second single on 7 October 2021 alongside a music video directed by Matt Sav.[26][27] In November, the band appeared on ABC's The Sound to perform the track live from Red Hill Auditorium, Western Australia.[28]

"Sitting Up" and "It's Been a Long Day" followed as third and fourth singles on 10 February and 8 April 2022 respectively.[29][14] "Hardlight" was released as the fifth single on 19 May 2022, as well as the announcement of an Australian tour.[30]

Sixth and final single "Pulling Through" was released on 20 June 2022, as the closing track of the record.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
The AU Review	[31]
Backseat Mafia	8.5/10[32]
Clash	7/10[33]
The Guardian	[34]
NME	[35]

Reviewing the album for NME, Caleb Triscari praised the album for offering "promising development from Spacey Jane", commenting on Harper's fuller use of his vocal range and new instrumentation. On the melancholic lyrics in tracks like "Not What You Paid For" and "It's Been A Long Day", Triscari wrote "two-thirds through the album, we’re left begging, pleading for a reprieve".[35]

Shaad D'Souza for The Guardian was more critical, describing the album as "painfully sophomoric indie rock". He criticised the repetitive themes of heartbreak and disaffection, writing "most of the songs here hit the same beats over and over", and how "musically, it sounds like so many other records released by Australian indie bands in the past decade".[34]

Track listing

All tracks written by Ashton Hardman-le Cornu, Caleb Harper, Kieran Lama, and Peppa Lane.

All tracks produced by Kostantin Kersting, unless stated otherwise.

Personnel

Musicians

• Caleb Harper – writing, vocals, guitar
• Ashton Hardman-le Cornu – writing, guitar
• Kieran Lama – writing, drums
• Peppa Lane – writing, bass guitar, vocals

Technical

• Konstantin Kersting – producer (1, 4–5, 7–11)
• Dave Parkin – producer (2–3, 6, 12), mixing (3)
• Rich Costey – mixing (1–2, 4–12)
• Jeff Citron – mixing assistant

Music videos

• Alexandra Nell – producer (1)
• Lewis Potts – director of photography (1–3)
• Serena Reynolds – director (6)
• Thomas Dunphy – producer, director of photography (5)
• Matt Sav – director (1–3), cover photography
• Nick Mckk – director, editor (5)

Charts

Chart performance for Here Comes Everybody

Chart (2022)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[36]	1

Release history

Release dates and formats for Here Comes Everybody

Region	Date	Format	Catalogue	Label	Ref.
Various	24 February 2022	Cassette CD digital download streaming vinyl LP	SPACJ008	Spacey Jane (independent)	[37]
Australia		LP (multiple limited edition versions)			[38]

References

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