Having formed Empty Nesters in Ottawa back in 2016, Eric Liao recently left the city behind to relocate to the musical hotbed of Montreal. With a string of EPs, most recently 2020s Homebody, and a burgeoning reputation as a live performer in his native Canada, Empty Nesters are currently putting together some exciting plans for this year, starting today as they premiere their new single, The Simphony.

The Simphony’s origin story can be traced back to a show Empty Nesters played supporting the Fire Talk-records signed, PACKS, where Eric met the band’s creative leader Madeline Link, and the pair became friends and more recently, as demonstrated on The Simphony, musical collaborators. The Simphony was a song that never quite felt finished in Eric’s mind as he explains, “I felt that it was missing female vocals and thought it would sound nice as a lovey dovey duet“, thankfully for everyone concerned, Madeline agreed.

Starting with a voicemail about free evenings and available ice cream, the track soon settles into a dreamy soundscape reminiscent of the likes of Wild Nothings, Whitelands or one of Eric’s main influences, My Bloody Valentine. Just as you think you’ve settled into a world of dreamy synths and distant clattering drums, the song seems to suddenly snap into a clearer focus, a wiry lead-guitar fading out for a punky twenty-second outro that’s simultaneously arresting and rather thrilling, even if it’s gone as soon as it arrives. It’s a reminder that Empty Nesters remain a band as keen on throwing you off the scent as they are in inviting you along for the ride, strap in because Eric Liao is an artist to keep an eye on.

The Simphony is out now. For more information on Empty Nesters visit https://emptynestersband.com/.