"Sinner" is the second single by The Last Dinner Party from their debut album, Prelude to Ecstasy, released June 30, 2023 through Island Records. It serves as the eighth track from the album.
Background[]
After the success of their debut single Nothing Matters, on June 23, 2023, the band posted to their instagram announcing the release of their second single, 'Sinner'.
The song was written by Lizzie Mayland[1] and tells the story of their relationship with London and moving there from the semi-small minded place where Lizzie grew up and feeling a sense of freedom to become yourself as a person, but then feeling a loss of who they were as a child.[2]
- “The story is about my relationship with London and where I grew up, which is a very, very rural small town. It has prejudices and is a bit small-minded socially. ‘Sinner’ is about converting to a place where you feel freer be yourself and express your sexuality, but also long for that place that you were so at home in. I had a nice childhood and it's something I miss, but those two things don't feel like they can coexist. It’s kind of a made-up story about if I met someone who could represent both those things and like me as an entire person rather than one or the other.”
- ―Lizzie Mayland in an interview with The Line of Best Fit.[1]
While talking about the song with Apple Music, Lizzie Mayland explained:[3]
- “It’s such a fun live moment because it’s kind of a turning point in the set: ‘OK, it’s party time.’ I was quite freaked out about the idea of being like, ‘This is a song about being queer.’ And I thought, ‘Are people going to get that?’ Because it’s not the most metaphorical or difficult lyrics, but it’s also not just like, ‘I like all gendered people.’ But people get it, which has been quite reassuring. It’s about belonging and about finding a safe space in yourself and your own sense of self. And marrying an older version of yourself with a current version of yourself. Playing it live and people singing it back is such a comforting feeling. I know Emily was very inspired by St. Vincent and also LCD Soundsystem.”
- ―Lizzie Mayland for Apple Music
Composition[]
The song started out in September 2022 as "Lizzie.wav" and was born out of a breakbeat drum sample,[4] that has been forming in the bands studio in Greenwich.
- “’Sinner’ is punctuated by ripping guitar lines and harmony-filled vocal breakdowns.”
- ―Lizzie Mayland[4]
Lyrics[]
Video[]
A live performance video was released the same day as the single. The video was directed by Balan Evans and the band themselves and was shot in one take.[5]
The video sees the band perform the track live in an intimate, dimly lit setting. Abigail Morris dances effortlessly and elegantly around the room, smashing wine glasses as she goes.
Critical reception[]
Robin Murray of CLASH thought the song felt more biting and urgent than their debut single, Nothing Matters.[6] Nick Reilly of Rolling Stone thought the song sounded like the soundtrack to a bacchanalian orgy in old Soho.[7]
Awards & Nominations[]
"Sinner" has been submitted for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Performance for the 2024 Grammy Awards.[8]
Videos[]
Credits[]
The Last Dinner Party[]
- Abigail Morris - Additional Vocals
- Georgia Davies - Bass, Additional Vocals
- Emily Roberts - Lead Guitar, Additional Vocals
- Aurora Nishevci - Scored and Conducted, Organ, Synthesizer, Additional Vocals
- Lizzie Mayland - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Additional personnel[]
- James Ford - Production, Drums
- Jimmy Robertson - Engineer
- Lucy Humphris - Trumpet
- Bradley Jones - Trumpet
- Robyn Blair - French Horn
- Chris Brewster - Trombone
- Alistair Goodwin - Bass Trombone
- Alan Moulder - Mixed
- Chris Gehringer - Mastering
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/last-dinner-party-on-the-rise
- ↑ https://youtu.be/qfxpWruSVew?si=gz5Gj0aZzy0yZrwD
- ↑
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/alt-pop-darlings-the-last-dinner-party-share-their-new-single-sinner/
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuG_o9FOMlv/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- ↑ https://www.clashmusic.com/news/the-last-dinner-party-blossom-with-sinner/
- ↑ https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/features/the-last-dinner-party-we-like-to-go-between-the-grotesque-and-the-beautiful-30706/
- ↑ https://x.com/tldparchives/status/1843117534586995107
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Tracklist
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Acoustics and Covers
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Other Eras
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| Prelude to Ecstasy ❦ Second studio album | |||||
Live
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Extras
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| Poems | Heather | ||||
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| Scrapped songs | Godzilla | ||||
| Other | In Store Signings ❦ Short Film | ||||
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