The South London trio Dead Air fight back against the system with their scorching new single ‘Do It For The Pay’. Following along from big hits including ‘Fast Food World’, this single has a certain rough-around-the-edges quality to it, which its predecessors sometimes lack. It showcases how the band isn’t confining themselves to one style, giving fans an exciting glimpse into just what their ‘Word Wide Villainy’ EP (expected to be released later this year) has to give. 

From the get-go, the track is straight in your face. Lyle Broom’s snappy guitars rush the listener right into the heart of the song before Richard Greenbury’s powerful drums come racing in, proving that the band knows how to craft a great song. Although what truly holds the track together is Reuben Moonasar’s bass and vocals. The bass is a thumping delight which gets listeners’ hearts racing, and his vocals are simply phenomenal, as heard by the megaphone section near the middle, which is reminiscent of a protest.

Offering an introspective reflection of our world, ‘Do It For The Pay’ is built on anger, which is not only clear from the frantic instruments but the lyrics too “they call us scum / I’m sick of this life / f*ck that 9-5”. Anger from fuelling a system that doesn’t care about its workers, a system that values profit over people. While this observation can border on repetitive if not done right (especially in the punk genre), Dead Air are unique with their take. Keeping things simple, the English band is innovating what this genre can look like. 

Having already completed a mini tour around the U.K last year, playing infamous venues including Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh and London’s Shacklewell Arms, ‘Do It For The Pay’ firmly cements Dead Air’s status as ones to keep an eye on. 

Madi Briggs

@disc0mbob

    Image: ‘Do It For The Pay’ Official Single Cover