Blending rich vocal harmonies with raw emotion, charisma, and an undeniable, irresistible charm, Liverpool indie pop band Hushtones shine bright on their enchanting, sun-drenched single, “Fragments.” Speaking to Atwood Magazine, the fast-rising quintet dive into vulnerability, connection, and what’s in store on their forthcoming sophomore album, ‘Wildflowers in the Mystery.’
Stream: “Fragments” – Hushtones
There’s a golden light in “Fragments” – a kind of sun-soaked shimmer that shines through even as the lyrics wrestle with darkness.
Liverpool’s Hushtones open their upcoming sophomore album Wildflowers in the Mystery with this radiant song about standing beside someone in the midst of their unraveling. It’s about watching someone you love struggle, knowing you can’t fix it for them, and choosing to stay close anyway. “Keep this in your pocket / Keep this close to your heart / I’m not your doctor / I’m just your friend,” Martha Goddard sings, her voice earnest and inviting. It’s warm, heartfelt, and deeply human – a tender moment of presence and patience, delivered with a sparkling, harmony-rich glow.
Keep this in your pocket
Keep this close to your heart
I’m not your doctor
I’m just your friend
And I want to make it all fine
I know you love the sunshine
And it’s a practice
It’s a practice alright
It’s no surprise
They’ve cut you down to size
You fall only to rise
Step into the light
Picking up the fragments of your mind
“We wrote this song a bit differently to the rest of the songs on the album,” Goddard tells Atwood Magazine.
“I came up with the initial guitar rhythm and riff and thought it could be something. I wrote the first verse and the second verse and made a basic demo on logic. I couldn’t immediately think of what the chorus should be so I sent it to Mick (Campbell, Hushtones’ co-frontman), and he totally understood what I was trying to say. He filled in the gaps and wrote the chorus and middle 8 section. At that point we brought it to the band who lifted the song to where it is now!”
Glorious, layered, and perfectly executed vocal harmonies add a refreshingly bright glow to what is, at its core, already an exceptionally warm and wondrous song. It’s a stunning reintroduction to Hushtones for those in need, and an all too perfect way to set the tone for all that’s to come.
Are you ok?
Are you okay with just fine
Are you alright
Or are you wasting your time?
I want to give
I want to give you something
I want to lie
I want to lie it’s alright
It’s no surprise
They’ve cut you down to size
You fall only to rise
Step into the light
Picking up the fragments of your mind
“We wanted to start the album with something vibrant and fresh, even with its darker meaning,” the band shares. “We thought this song encapsulated the overall sound of the band well and was a nice place to begin.” Built on a foundation of urgency and instinct, “Fragments” was the first song written for this new chapter – and it set everything else in motion.
“Martha had started a song (just two verses) about helping a friend,” Campbell recalls. “I picked it up and instantly connected with the message… it just clicked. That urgency pushed us creatively. I really believe our best work happens when we don’t have time to overthink it.”
That spark is audible in every bar – from their soaring harmonies and sunburst guitars to the push-pull interplay of Goddard and Campbell’s vocals, a hallmark of Hushtones’ sound. “It’s no surprise / They’ve cut you down to size / You fall only to rise…” they sing together, pulling the listener into a story of quiet resilience and hard-won hope. “Fragments” is spirited, seductive indie pop that gleams and glows with feeling – full of fire and sweetness, heartbreak and grace.
Just like before
Behind your eyes
There’s something more
The wheels are turning
You’re burning out
There’s a silver line on every cloud
Comprised of Goddard, Campbell, Caitlin McPaul (bass and backing vocals), Joe Dillon (guitar and backing vocals), and Abraham Tesfachristos (drums), Hushtones have been actively spinning thoughts and feelings into musical gold for five years running.
They self-describe as a guitar driven, vocal harmony focused indie band, and released their debut album Greetings From the Other Side in 2020. “We have all spent a lot of time in monotonous full-time jobs and we use music as an escape from this and a source of joy and passion,” they say. “A lot of our songs touch on this juxtaposition of wanting to be free and creative, but feeling trapped. We are basically five friends who love playing music together, and we hope people enjoy listening to it!”
That honesty comes through in every detail of “Fragments,” a song that feels like a hand on your shoulder and a burst of sunlight through the clouds. It’s the beginning of something special, and the start of what promises to be a transformative year for this Liverpool band.
— —
:: stream/purchase Fragments here ::
:: connect with Hushtones here ::
:: stream/purchase Wildflowers in the Mystery here ::
— —
A CONVERSATION WITH HUSHTONES
Atwood Magazine: Hushtones, hello! You kicked the spring off in May with the beautiful “Fragments,” a song born out of urgency and instinct, that radiates that same kind of intense, impassioned energy. What's the story behind “Fragments”?
Hushtones: We wrote this song a bit differently to the rest of the songs on the album. I (Martha) came up with the initial guitar rhythm and riff and thought it could be something. I wrote the first verse and the second verse and made a basic demo on logic. I couldn’t immediately think of what the chorus should be so I sent it to Mick and he totally understood what I was trying to say. He filled in the gaps and wrote the chorus and middle 8 section. At that point we brought it to the band who lifted the song to where it is now.
You had admittedly limited time to write this song, but now it's been out for a few months – personally, it feels as fresh for me every time I play it, as it did on that very first time. What is this song about, for you?
Hushtones: I’m so glad you like the song! “Fragments” is about watching your friend go through a tough mental health period. It can be hard because all you want to do is fix all of their problems for them, but ultimately they have to help themselves. The song is about staying close and picking up the pieces as your friend tries to put themselves back together.
How does this track fit into the overall narrative of Wildflowers in the Mystery?
Hushtones: This song is the opening track on the album. We wanted to start the album with something vibrant and fresh, even with its darker meaning. The album has two sides: a lighter, more happy-go-lucky side and a darker, heavier, more introspective side. We thought this song encapsulated the overall sound of the band well and was a nice place to begin.
You've now followed up “Fragments” with “Come to the Garden,” another stunning song. Can you talk more about this track and what it means to you?
Hushtones: “Come to the Garden” might be our collective favourite song on the album. We had a lot of fun writing this one. We wrote it together in my flat and lent into a 60s soundscape with a mellotron and vintage sounding harmonies. The more we lent into that dreamy, reverb-y, ‘60s world we realised it was almost slightly creepy. We already had “come with me to the garden” as the leading refrain and we were able to imagine this and the whole song as an invitation from a stalker.
What do you hope listeners take away from your new music, and what have you taken away from creating it and now putting it out?
Hushtones: The album is called Wildflowers in the Mystery and is about overcoming difficult personal battles. I’m honestly not sure what I hope listeners take away. I hope there are people out there who connect with the messages in the album and I just hope people enjoy it. It offers us a much-needed escape from “the real world” and hopefully it can offer a slice of that to our listeners too.
For those who are just discovering Hushtones today through this writeup, what do you want them to know about you and your music?
Hushtones: We are guitar driven, vocal harmony focused, indie band made up of five; Mick, Martha, Caitlin, Joe and Abe. We are a collaborative effort with Martha and Mick writing the majority of the songs and the band helping to build and refine each track. We have all spent a lot of time in monotonous full time jobs and we use music as an escape from this and a source of joy and passion. A lot of our songs touch on this juxtaposition of wanting to be free and creative but feeling trapped. We are basically five friends who love playing music together and we hope people enjoy listening to it!
— —
:: stream/purchase Fragments here ::
:: connect with Hushtones here ::
:: stream/purchase Wildflowers in the Mystery here ::
— —
Stream: “Fragments” – Hushtones
— — — —
Connect to Hushtones on
Facebook, 𝕏, TikTok, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
© Jen Campbell
© Jen Campbell:: Stream Hushtones ::
