New EP and film from Neil MacLeod

New Zealand’s Neil MacLeod has been making an impact in the world of dark electronica, where he explores themes of human emotion through haunting soundscapes, soulful vocals and profound lyrics. Since his debut single “Settle” in 2017, he’s consistently delivered an innovative sound with each release offering a deeper exploration of his unique blend of atmospheric beats and reflective songwriting.

Returning two years after his debut with new tracks in the build up to his debut EP, To Unfold, since then, he’s dropped multiple singles and remixes as well as his first full-length record called We Have Known Lost Days in 2022. Now, with the release of his latest EP, I Need a Battle, he builds on his position as a compelling force in alternative and modern electronic music.

The seven-track EP presents an immersive experience that invites listeners into a world of intense emotions and personal growth. The EP is accompanied by a short film, co-directed by Neil MacLeod and New Zealand director Oscar Keys, which serves as a visual extension of the themes explored in the music. This multimedia approach underscores Neil’s ability to create art that’s at once expansive and deeply personal.

The journey of I Need a Battle didn’t originate from a single moment of inspiration but rather from sporadic bursts of creativity amidst a busy schedule. The turning point came with the creation of the title track, a piece so profoundly impactful that it became the cornerstone of the entire project. This song distils the EP’s core message; the necessity of confronting the things that scare us, with the artist himself explaining, “I’m confronting things when I write these songs and I hope that they can help others to do the same.”

The production process for I Need a Battle was as intense as the themes it explores. Neil spent a week mixing the EP at Bigpop’s Drake Street Studios. He lived in the studio, sleeping on the couch for multiple nights, ensuring that every detail of the EP was brought to life exactly as he sees it. From the crashing percussion, expressive vocal layers and pulsing synth arrangement of opening track “Fear,” the release kicks off with a gripping sound.

Tracks like “Gold” draw on his stunning vocal panache and experimental vision, crafting an enthralling sound that contrasts silky vocal melodies and soft piano tones with crunching synths and pounding beats. “Never Over” serves up a moody alternative pop sound brimming with punching beats, dark instrumental arrangement and slick vocal flows.

Titled track “I Need a Battle” delivers a beautifully emotive sound of elegant vocals that drift over the graceful piano backing which puts Neil MacLeod exquisite songwriting on full display as well as offering a moment of dreamy sonic bliss on the record. Closed by the balletic dance of strings and piano on “Coda,” the dazzling instrumental piece offers a superb finale to the artist’s incredible new release.

Working with Oscar Keys on the short film, Neil expands the world of I Need a Battle beyond the musical sphere. The film is not prescriptive about how the music should be imagined but rather leaves space for viewers to project their own emotions and experiences onto the story, resulting in a spectacular cinematic feat that perfectly pairs with the music and context of the EP.

Watch the short film for I Need a Battle below

Commenting on working on the release and the title song, the artist offers, “The songs came together over many years in between intense periods of production and mixing work. It was also a time of intense personal growth. When I wrote the song ‘I Need a Battle,’ it moved me so much that I decided to build the next record around it. I’m certain that the song revealed itself to me so that I could learn from it.”

Listen to I Need A Battle below