SICKY – “I’M HAPPY IF YOU’RE HAPPY”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE
We last from North England Britpop / indie rock sensation SICKY a couple of years back with the release of his sophomore album Garbage Town. Featuring Jen Bone of the Project Blues Band on double bass, this single arrives two years to the month since releasing that album and three years since debuting with Bowling Balls, an album partially inspired by Prince, Bowie and Ray Bradbury’s book The Martian Chronicles, in 2021 during lockdown.
Glad to hear that SICKY has returned to the fold (perhaps he never really left) with the introduction of his new fun-loving single ”I’m Happy If You’re Happy”, a witty and upbeat feel-good offering that explores (and pokes fun at) the allure of temptation, playing the game of love and testing psychological comfort levels. But it’s all in good fun – the girl-meets-modern-materialist-world video is equally entertaining. SICKY does it again with more fun and memorable music.
SICKY is the solo project of Mick Butler, whose brand of melodic Britpop-infused indie rock spells good news for fans of Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Supergrass and Ash. Originally from the Black Country region of England, he is now based in Shropshire. This new single serves as a rich sonic morsel from his new Troubled Delight album, which folks can anticipate across digital services in the new year.
“This is a song about seduction. The use of temptation as a means to an end. Calculated moves to get something from an unsuspecting dreamer. The track features the wonderful Jen Bone on double bass. I wasn’t too sure how to record the bass, so just pointed a mic at it and hoped for the best. I think luckily it turned out well. Also featuring is the force of nature that is Lily and Scarlet on backing vocals and random noises. This was not a dull recording process,” says Mick Butler.
“In the background you may hear Scarlet’s impressive turkey impression as well as all sorts of percussion instruments borrowed from the girls’ music box. Some played by them and some by me. There is a slightly chaotic feel to it but hopefully the energy and the joy cuts through. Here, there’s more than a slight doffing of the cap towards The Cure’s “The Lovecats”. Hopefully Mr. Smith would enjoy it.”
His forthcoming album – his third to date – is a more organic beast than previous offerings, featuring instruments “borrowed from the kids’ music room”, he says, “including a broken violin, a ukulele, gloks, bells, drums and a mouth organ… Anything you could get a noise out of really”.
While Mick Butler has had his run of playing in bands, ranging from the brass soaked pop of Papa Mantra to the dirty stomp of SUMO, he now derives pleasure from banging out tunes and crafting new material. Literally everything you hear in his music is him squeezing noises out of anything that’ll sing.
As of December 3, “I’m Happy If You’re Happy” is available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full ‘Troubled Delight’ album will be released on February 14, 2025.
Credits
Written by Mick Butler (SICKY)
Recorded, mixed and produced by SICKY in Shropshire
Mastered by Charlie Francis at Synergy Mastering Cardiff.
Photos by Helen Marshall
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Jen Bone – double bass on Tracks 2, 4, 5
Rebecca Butler – vocals on Track 11
Lily and Scarlet – back vocals & random noises on Track 2
Now a sonic trip back to 2022 for further enjoyment today:
SICKY
[Single]
(Independent)
Release Date: December 3, 2024
Artist Links
Background Photo Credit: Helen Marshall
