KATIE BROWN - 18 NOV 2020

Dianne Swann, frontwoman of Auckland duo The Bads, returns with her arresting second single ‘These Are The Days’ from her forthcoming debut solo album. Written earlier this year, the powerful track is a true song for its times. With the opening line stating ‘Gone are the days we can mistreat her with no consequence’, its lyrics are especially hard-hitting. The song comes across as a battle cry written on behalf of Papatūānuku: an urgent message to take note of the realities of climate change, mass consumption and overpopulation.

At the time Swann wrote it back in January 2020, smoke from the Australian bush fires had reached Auckland skies, turning them an eerie dark orange and brown, and Swann was alarmed watching the change occur.

“This was such a sad and sobering day. Torrential rain and wild storms followed soon after and I had such a strong feeling - this is really happening, and it is happening fast. Mother Earth is fighting back,” Swann explains.

“This is really happening, and it is happening fast. Mother Earth is fighting back”

The moving and portentous song features Dianne herself on vocals and guitar, along with Chris O'Connor (drums), Ben King (bass & guitar), Dave Khan (keys), Sandy Mill (vocals), and Brett Adams (guitar). Engineered by Tom Broome, it was mixed in the UK by Steve Power (Blur, Baby Bird, Julian Cope, Robbie Williams, British Sea Power).

Watch the thought-provoking lyric video below.

Stream the song here.

Follow Dianne on Facebook.