TRYHARD
ADDRESSES MENTAL
HEALTH STIGMA
ON EMOTIONAL
NEW SINGLE
‘OLD ME’
Very few songwriters capture the coming-of-age experience quite like TRYHARD. The Melbourne-based artist has quietly been making a name for himself since the release of his euphoric debut single ‘Dopamine’. Subsequent releases, ‘Matches’ and ‘TOO REAL’ cemented the 23-year-oldas one-to-watch, signallingthe introduction of an exciting new force in the Australian pop music scene. The second release from TRYHARD’s upcoming debut EP, ‘OLD ME’ (out now) is a change of pace from the bombastic, festival-ready sounds of his prior releases. Demonstrating a candourseldom seen in artists so early on in their career, ‘OLD ME’ explores TRYHARD’s personal experience with mental illness and the impact he’s seen it have on others in his life
“I still have the voice memos from the night I wrote [‘OLD ME’]. I was lying in bed doing absolutely nothing, and yet completely overwhelmed by what was going on in my head. I crawled over to mykeyboard and started toying with the idea of missing an old version of myself. It was a real stream-of-consciousness writing experience” he explains
Reflecting on his own battle with depression and anxiety, TRYHARD negotiates love, loss and growing up over the 3-minute duration. Marked by poignant songwriting reminiscent of Peach PRC and a captivating vocal performance inspired by PCpop influences Charli XCX and Kim Petras, ‘OLD ME’ is TRYHARD like we’ve never seen him before: completely and utterly vulnerable
“OLD ME is one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written. My first few singles alluded to my struggles with mental illness, but this song tackles them head on.Frankly, there’s a lot more discussion that needs to be had around mental health. There is still quite a stigma around it, among young men in particular. I hope songs like this go a little way to making conversations around these topics easier and more accessible”
TRYHARD is the bold pop project from James Comito, whom critics have praised for his avant-garde pop songwriting and musical sensibilities well beyond his years.Following the release of his most successful single to date ‘TOO REAL’ earlier this year, TRYHARD has been working feverishly to finish his forthcoming debut EP. ‘OLD ME’ is accompanied by a stunning visualiser created by renowned digital designer Half Up. Given the sensitive subject matter of the single and his passion for mental health advocacy, TRYHARD has committed to donating $1 AUD to Lifeline Australia for each pre-save of ‘OLD ME’
With a growing global listener base and seemingly infallible ability to pen pop hits, TRYHARD demonstrates a work-ethic and drive comparable to that of his major label counterparts. With ‘OLD ME’ being only his fourth release, TRYHARD is poised to make 2022 his biggest year yet as he continues to build a discography with mainstream appeal and yet uniquely his own.
PRESS LOVE FOR TRYHARD:
“A bubbly burst of deceptively effervescent pop in the vein of Charli XCX and The 1975” -Music Feeds
“TOO REAL’ is TRYHARD’s strongest release yet […] with cinematic nostalgia oozing through the production. It’s catchy, relatable and honestly just a great song from a great emerging artist” Thomas Bleach
“With a club-ready, heartbeat pulse and the nostalgic yearning of John Hughes films, Melbourne bedroom pop-producer James Comito’s debut single under the moniker TRYHAQRD ‘Dopamine’ is fresh of pure ecstasy” – Opinion Police
