Decoration Day Share New Single "Harry Goes to War" | 'Makeshift Future' Out September 18th

Decoration Day reveal their new single, “Harry Goes to War”, taken from their forthcoming album Makeshift Future. Written by guitarist Justin Orok, “Harry Goes To War” sees vocalist Mara Nesrallah assume the role of a disobedient young soldier in the 1940s. “Harry Goes To War” is available now on all music services. Makeshift Future is set for release on September 18th. Listen/Share: Decoration Day “Harry Goes To War”

Orok says of the track, "A few months before he died, my grandpa sent me a typewritten letter in the mail with the title “Anti-Dementia Memoir #4”. Every one of the grandkids had gotten one - it was just his charming way of preserving his memories and keeping his mind sharp until the end. The letter recounts his time as a soldier in the Canadian Army during World War II. There is quite a range in the two short pages; he writes about a joyous weekend playing hooky from the army camp, and also about the weight of being forced to burn the instruments of prisoners of war, who would later go on to open their own businesses in Canada.The story flowed in such a natural, folk-like way that I knew it had to be adapted into a song. When I hear it back now, it doesn’t feel like anything I’ve written, but instead like a piece of family lore that’s always existed."

Makeshift Future was recorded last summer, a premonition, perhaps, of a moment in which we’d need a resource to understand uncertainty. Vocals are shared between Mara Nesrallah, multi-instrumentalist Tiffany Wu, and guitarist Justin Orok, whose respective songwriting contributions make up the bulk of the album. Bolstering these narratives is a lush musical backdrop that swells slowly and intentionally with tender sounds by clarinetist Naomi McCarroll-Butler, violinist Andrew Chung, and guest musicians Liam Cole on percussion and Ben Heard on upright bass.

Decoration Day describes the album as chaotic. Chaos doesn’t necessarily mean being loud, brazen or contrarian. Chaos can be the act of questioning; asserting a different point of view; of shaking up the status quo. Chaos can sound quiet.

Chaos here is in the textures of the music; these melodic, beautiful tracks that expand and release. Like a wave crashing on the shore, theirs is a kind of chaos integral to everyday life—questioning feelings, modes of operating, different moods. There is nothing conclusive here, much like there is no conclusion or true end in life. You keep going. Makeshift Future allows the band, and its listeners, to remain so ardently present in their music and in life itself, open to whatever comes next.

Makeshift Future is set for release on September 18th 2020.