We have all experienced danger in love and relationships, often taking risks to mask insecurities and prevent heartbreak. The emotional toll love can take can make love feel predatory; vulnerability can lead to bitterness, pain and an all-consuming hurt that is nearly volatile even when you are simply drawn to it. British trio New Hope Club explore these themes and try to avoid reopening past wounds on their latest single, “Swimming with Sharks.”
In the music video, Blake Richardson, George Smith and Reece Bibby depict the wounds inflicted by this captivating love. The song blends their signature pop-rock sensibilities with what feels like a tortured poets romance, following the release of their comeback single, “Trouble in Paradise,” released in September 2024.
The metaphor of “swimming with sharks” encapsulates this feeling of drifting in an ocean, desperately searching for some sense of purpose when you are constantly being crushed by love. As they read a “message in a bottle,” they convey feelings of loss and uncertainty in their relationships.
Imagery of sharks tearing apart the boys illustrates this raw emotional pain, all set against the backdrop of a pulsating, danceable pop-rock sound. Struggling to trust again, they sing, “I should stay away from oceans / ‘Cause all my wounds are open / And I keep.”
The boys push deeper into this idea with the lines, “Swimming with, swimming with, swimming with sharks / You’re tearin’ me apart / Tell me why is love like…,” before returning to the refrain of “swimming with sharks.”
Released just weeks after their nine-year anniversary, “Swimming with Sharks” is an ode to the fans who are the heartbeat behind New Hope Club. Having opened for artists like Sabrina Carpenter and The Vamps, the trio has a unique ability to make listeners sigh with relief, sing their hearts out, or cry like there’s no tomorrow. This latest track reinforces their place as an up-and-coming pop group.
The boys are currently on tour in the UK and US. To learn more and buy tickets, click here.
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