Had Sandy Share "I Hate My Parents And I Wanna Learn How To Swim"

Brighton, UK quartet Had Sandy have put out a new single, "I Hate My Parents And I Wanna Learn How To Swim," through Sugar-Free Records. The track leans on the frantic, heart-on-sleeve energy of second wave emo, calling to mind Sunny Day Real Estate, Texas Is The Reason and Mineral, with traces of The Movielife and The Anniversary in the mix.

The band originally took much of its cue from Tigers Jaw before widening the palette to include Citizen, Title Fight and Drug Church, gradually narrowing in on the sounds that come most naturally to them as a unit. The release arrives as the group prepares to hit the road for a stretch of shows with Prom, plus an appearance at Burn It Down Festival.

Vocalist and guitarist Jude Allenby says the title means something entirely different from the lyrics, though it captures a nostalgic snapshot of teenage angst and the innocence of a misunderstood kid. The words themselves sit between trying to fit in and the frustration of clashing feelings inside a relationship. Allenby likes the notion that one listener's nostalgia can be another's present-day fixation, pointing to fans who say the band's songs "make them feel 16 again."

The song came together fast. Drummer Elliott Scambler texted Allenby asking if he wanted to write something, armed only with an idea for a drumbeat, and the pair finished the track in roughly 20 minutes. The title came later, from bassist Louis Tong during a drive to a show at Brighton's Green Door Store, and was written down on the spot. According to Allenby, that is how plenty of Had Sandy's song titles come about.