Monster Rally and Leisure soundtrack escapism on new single “Holiday Haze”

Ahead of his new album this Friday, eclectic producer, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist Monster Rally surprises fans with one more single, “Holiday Haze” featuring New Zealand electronic music project LEISURE. The windows down track ushers in the warmer months ahead and sets a tone of escapism as the opening track on Echoes of the Emerald Sands — Stream “Holiday Haze”

Arriving on March 27, Echoes of the Emerald Sands is Monster Rally’s tenth full-length record and first that isn’t purely instrumental. A long list of collaborators, including Mei Semones, Jordana and TV Girl , lent their vocal talents to the project that has a little something for everyone — Pre-save.

Monster rally, aka Ted Feighan, said, “I first met the guys from LEISURE a few years ago when I was doing support on their first US tour. It was really inspiring to see the six of them each night pulling off all their silky vocals and smooth guitar riffs so seamlessly. ‘Holiday Haze’ started off with this cool, kind of laid back groove I wrote and after the song started to take shape, I immediately thought about LEISURE for the collab — luckily they were feeling it too. When I first got their demo back it was pretty surreal. Their songs have been stuck in my head since our tour three years ago and now this one is too. The track ended up having this really cool, hazy, almost sunset vibe that felt like the perfect soundtrack to a slow evening somewhere warm.”

LEISURE echoed these sentiments in saying, “We had Monster Rally out on the road with us back in 2023, so a collaboration somewhere down the line always felt inevitable. When Ted sent through a folder of demos to see if we’d be into trying some vocal ideas, one track instantly stood out. Candles lit, incense burning — within 45 minutes the vocal practically wrote itself.”

“‘Holiday Haze’ is a reflection on creative fatigue and the need to mentally check out for a moment. It drifts through that feeling of being stuck in the fog, where sunlight, daydreams, and the idea of a holiday offer brief flashes of clarity — like driving with the roof down, chasing the horizon until the haze finally lifts.”

Ahead of the album’s release, Monster Rally embarked on the nearly sold-out Coast to Coast Tour. Along the way, he was supported by RUMTUM. And to keep the good times going, the pair have recently announced a Texas tour together. See all upcoming dates here and below.

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

• May 28 - Fort Worth, TX - Tulips*
• May 29 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger*
• May 30 - Austin, TX - Brushy Street Commons*
• May 31 - Houston, TX - Meow Wolf*

*with RUMTUM