Mark Gardener and 2Square (aka Telepopmusik's Stephan Haeri) premiered the video for their fantastic new collaborative single "Chained."
"Chained" has an extraordinary chilled out vibe and features introspective lyrics inspired by a very dark time in Gardener's life:
"I wrote ‘Chained’, reflecting about my old home in Oxford, which had become a non-stop nightclub during a time post Ride breakup, when I was living alone. All got a bit out of control for a while and I had some great parties and friends, but one in particular would always show up late at my house when I was working in my attic studio. He was a bit of a walking chemistry set, so would always show up with substances. I was not in the best head-space at that time and was trying to get away from substances, which was not so easy when it kept on coming through my front door.
We’d always end up having big and good nights drinking, getting high and listening to records until dawn for a period; hence the line ‘Chained till dawn to find a new way’ lyric. I knew this was slowly dragging me down so, in the end, I packed up my car with a friend and we drove to the Medieaval Wilds of France in search of a new life. I ended up living in France for four years, experiencing a much needed break from that life. It was just what the doctor ordered! France and nature basically refuelled me and put back everything I felt I had lost after Ride and then a few lost party years in Oxford after that."
Stream "Chained" below and head here to download.
Gardener has been spending time during the pandemic working on various exciting projects at his OX4Sound studio. Expect more singles from this project to premiere later this summer.
Gardener and Telepopmusik previously teamed up in 2014 for a collaborative single titled "Sound." The video is posted below for your aural and visual pleasure.