In an uninhibited delivery of rage and frustration, The Hobby let it all out in their latest release, “Faith in Strangers.”
Up until now, The Hobby has been the solo project of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Gabe Massey. In “Faith in Strangers,” Massey is joined for the first time by bassist and producer Calla Avens, and drummer Eric Anderson.
“[I] finally had some backing and support to move The Hobby into its next evolution of sound,” said Massey about their first collaborative release. Avens agreed, noting, “I think we knew from the very beginning we had tapped into something special.”
The track confronts the events of the past few years, along with the anger, disillusionment, and despair that followed. “In 2020, when the world seemed hopeless with COVID rampantly spreading, people of color were being murdered daily by the state. People were coming together to protest and demand equal treatment. I really felt like we had something going there. It was so inspiring to see people across the nation stand up for what they know is right,” said Massey on the inspiration behind the track. “I feel like whatever momentum we had petered out, and it has been replaced with the same hatred and vitriol that’s always been there.” Drawing on the sounds of late 90’s and early 2000’s punk, The Hobby successfully encapsulates those feelings of angst and frustration with society with their newest track.
“Faith in Strangers” introduces itself with fuzzy guitar and a solid beat that grabs you by the shoulders and demands that you listen. Charged with more than twenty layers of guitar, the track makes very conscious use of volume. Meaningful pauses are met with crashing drums and forceful chords, in a way that feels true to feelings of anger and exasperation — there is gradual buildup, a calm before the storm, and then finally, the storm itself, which comes in the form of an explosive chorus.
Massey’s poignant lyricism gives the track a whole new layer of depth, with lyrics like “You’ll never have the power, give in to the flames / watch it fall apart, leave shadows in its wake,” that shake the listener to their core. Anderson’s drumming also plays a huge role in taking “Faith in Strangers” to the next level. Her performance on the track is dynamic, with seamless transitions and a range that encompasses skillful restraint and powerful force.
Avens’ production ties it all together, and the result is something potent and insightful. “To me, the Hobby is such an outpouring of emotion — Gabe’s emotion,” said Avens. “They are such a talented and observant person, and my greatest goal is to translate that into the songs we are recording.”
“The song is one of my personal favorites that I’ve written,” said Massey. “I think it shows everyone exactly where we’re coming from sonically and thematically right out of the gate as a beefed-up Hobby 2.0.”
Avens tells us that listeners have more to look forward to from The Hobby in the future. “We are already part of the way through our first EP as a band and have been writing our next album as well.”
“Faith in Strangers” is out now on Spotify.