Trials Announces Debut Solo Album ‘hendle’, Shares Two New Singles
‘what’s the colour of love?’ and ‘you could never hate me (like I do)’ are both taken from Trials’ upcoming record, hendle.
Image Daniel Hendle Rankine
A stalwart of the Australian hip hop scene, South Australian MC trials is finally ready to unleash his debut album after more than two decades.
One half of two-time ARIA Award-winning group A.B. Original, trials debut album hendle is produced, written, performed, recorded and mixed by the multi-talented artists, with a release date of Friday May 1 (pre-order here).
Comprising ten songs detailing trails childhood, domestic violence, substance abuse, intergenerational trauma and mental health challenges, the record is a “warts and all” origin story where the hero survives.
“A solo record is something I’ve always needed to do as these topics speak to so many people and it was important that I told my story my way alone”, says trials. “I’ve been fortunate to play so many parts for so many people and projects, but I owed it to myself and to my story to take the sole responsibilty of turning that pain and passion into song… it’s unashamedly me and my story in all its fractured pieces.”
trials has also shared the album’s first two singles, ‘what’s the colour of love?’, which first aired on triple j’s Drive with Tyrone & Abby, and ‘you could never hate me (like I do)’.
trials describes ‘what’s the colour of love?’ as “a love letter to the spirit and strength of women and children who learn to look after each other before themselves. While the admiration for overcoming adversity is evident, detailing my own harrowing story amongst it, the song’s most poignant point that it drives toward the audience is the responsibilities of men.”
Of ‘you could never hate me (like I do)’, he says the song “dives into topics of deep depression and self-loathing and the eventual rebirth that takes place after being forced to walk through the warzone of self-reflection and forgiveness.”
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Along with releasing his long ancitapted solo record hendle, trials has a memoir and interactive art exhibition on the horizon, with all three projects telling his story through different mediums.
“Amongst a complicated childhood, I found out later in life the person I was the most estranged from was myself,” trials shares. “Writing these songs, painting the portraits and putting the words to paper helped me understand myself as a person, who I was, who I am and who I want to be.”
As he gears up for the release of his debut album, trials is getting ready to take his new music on the road for the very first time, supporting Adelaide legends Hilltop Hoods on their sold-out arena Never Coming Home Tour, which heads to Hobart, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
‘what’s the colour of love?’ and ‘you could never hate me (like I do)’ buy trials are out now. Listen here. trials hendle arrives Friday May 1. Pre-order here. Catch trails supporting Hilltop Hoods at the AEC Arena on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 February. Tickets on sale at ticketek.com.au.
