The Small Corners Releases ‘Everyone Here Was A Stranger’ Feat. NZ’s Brian Baker
Everyone Here Was A Stranger is the new single from Leeds, UK-based collective The Small Corners, out today, 1st August. It’s their first release since 2023’s Brilliant Days EP, and while those songs were sometimes fragile and contemplative, dealing as they did with grief and loss, the new music is altogether bigger. Songwriter Spence Bayles: “The song was actually written many years ago, and while I have no recollection of which undoubtedly horrendous and divisive event inspired it, we seem to be stuck in an endless cycle of daily news feeds to which the same reflections on hope and unity can very much still be applied. Oh for a bit of harmony in the world, some community and kindness.”
The single features a guest vocal and guitar from NZ musician Brian Baker. “When I was thinking about bringing in a guest vocalist to duet on this song,” says Spence, “Brian was top of the list. I’ve been a fan of his work since first hearing The Makers in the 1990’s – my teenage Split Enz obsession led me to seek out as many side projects as possible, of which The Makers, featuring Eddie Rayner alongside Brian, was one. I’ve always loved his voice, and I was thrilled when he agreed to take part in the recording; he brings some real gravitas and soul to this track. For a song about forging a sense of community and bridging distances – both literally and figuratively – it’s pretty cool to have someone contributing all the way from New Zealand, somewhere that geographically couldn’t be much further away.”
Everyone Here Was A Stranger is the first in a series of new singles from The Small Corners, and is available on all streaming services from 1st August. A stop-motion animated video for the single will be launched later in August.
