Hypnotic Kingdom, aka Nathan Hewitt of Cheatahs, shares a tale of heartbreak and new parenthood on new single.
Words by Karl Johnson
For the first Hypnotic Kingdom release since 2018 full-length Would You Be There For Me?, Nathan Hewitt reminds us how precious yet painful life can be on his devastatingly intimate new release. My Baby Keeps Breaking My Heart is a touching lyrical journey that links childhood and parenthood, with Hewitt’s role as a new parent bringing back memories of his own father passing away when he was young. The track is cut from a new EP entitled ‘Little Shadow’ due November 19th.
My Baby Keeps Breaking My Heart is an expression of overflowing love, the often difficult nature of reflection and the mixed emotions caught in the middle. Memories that ooze emotion need time to find a resolution, especially when they arrive in such unexpected circumstances. Sonically, the track draws inspiration from the darkened corners of indie rock and the intimacy and lo-fi leanings of cult songwriters such as Elliot Smith, each verse ripping off a band-aid of raw emotion. It pulls on the heartstrings with an almost spiritual intimacy and a feeling of lived-in storytelling that you don’t find in everyday songwriting.
Hewitt reflects, “The lyrics and chorus line came from a strange experience I had when watching my baby boy play with an old toy truck my dad had given me as a baby. My 1 year old son was bashing it around on the table and I couldn’t help but think about how my dad had died in a trucking accident when I was 11. All I could see was his truck being thrown around and off the highway, and how the innocence of my son playing with a toy truck had taken me to this place. The trucking accident had broken my heart when dad died and my son – though completely oblivious – was breaking my heart by reminding me of this, I felt part of a symbolic trinity at that moment.”
Recording at Yuck guitarist Max Bloom’s home studio in East London was key in unearthing not only the EP’s sonic identity, mentions Hewitt, but for rekindling his passion for writing music. Bloom’s production forged a new direction and partnership between the two, while also adding lead guitar parts and organ. Hypnotic Kingdom find acceptance through the duality of death and new life on their new single, which arrives via Bloom’s own label Ultimate Blends.
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