Easy Life

Last updated

Hard Life
EasyLifeVoz.jpg
Hard Life in April 2019
Background information
Also known aseasy life (2017–2023)
Origin Leicester, England
Genres
  • Pop
Years active2017–present
Labels Island
Members
  • Murray Matravers
  • Oliver Cassidy
  • Lewis Berry
  • Jordan Birtles
Past members
  • Sam Hewitt
Website hardlifemusic.co.uk

Hard Life (stylised in all lowercase) [1] is an English alternative indie pop group formed in Leicester in 2017. They came second in the 2020 edition of the BBC's Sound of..., an annual music poll of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. Their third mixtape, Junk Food, reached No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart a day after its release. Their debut studio album, Life's a Beach , was released on 28 May 2021. [2] In October 2023, the band made public the fact that they were being sued by easyGroup over the use of the easy name. [3] In a public statement, Easy Life said they were financially unable to fight the court action brought upon them, and that Easy Life had to cease to exist. They played their farewell show on 13 October 2023 at Koko in London. [4]

Contents

History

The band was formed by frontman Murray Matravers in mid-2017. [5] [6] They released their first single, "Pockets", via Chess Club Records in November 2017, [7] and subsequently signed to Island Records. [6] They released their debut mixtape, Creature Habits in April 2018. [8] Following the release of the singles, "Frank" in July 2018 [9] and "Nightmares" in September 2018, [10] the band appeared on Later... with Jools Holland . [11] The band finished 2018 by releasing their fourth single, "Temporary Love Part 1" (with B-side "Temporary Love Part 2"), in December. [12] In 2022 they took to Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage, this was their second Glastonbury appearance and a remarkable step-up from their first on BBC Introducing. They featured alongside former Brockhampton member Kevin Abstract, who joined them on stage and promptly forgot his verse.

They released their second mixtape, Spaceships, containing the single "Sunday" in March. [13] They headlined the BBC Introducing stage at the Glastonbury Festival in June. [14] Debuting as Annie Mac's "Hottest Record" on BBC Radio 1 in July, the band released the single "Earth". The music video, commenting on environmental issues, was shot at a plastic recycling plant in Morocco. [15]

The band released their debut album Life's a Beach on 28 May 2021. It reached the number two spot on the UK Albums Chart.

They released their second album "Maybe in Another Life..." on 7 October 2022. [16] Like the band's first album, it also reached the number two spot on the UK Albums Chart.

On 2 October 2023, the band announced that they were being sued for trademark infringement by EasyGroup, a venture capital conglomorate. [17] The company allege that the band used their branding and imagery of EasyJet, a subsidiary of the group, in their 2021 and 2022 Life's a Beach tour. [18]

On 11 June 2024, they announced their rebrand to Hard Life and released their new single "Tears" the same day. [19] [20]

Band members

Past members

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions Certifications
UK
[22]
IRE
[23]
SCO
[22]
Life's a Beach 2474
MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE...
  • Released: 7 October 2022
  • Label: Island
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming, CD
22
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details and chart positions
TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
UK
[22]
SCO
[22]
creature habits
  • Released: 29 March 2018 [25]
  • Label: Easy Co Limited / Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, vinyl
spaceships
  • Released: 22 March 2019 [26]
  • Label: Easy Co Limited / Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, vinyl
junk food
  • Released: 17 January 2020 [27]
  • Label: Island
  • Format: Cassette, CD, digital download, streaming, vinyl
723
see you later maybe never (demos)
  • Released: 8 May 2020 [28]
  • Label: Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
Sales

[22]
ICE
[29]
SCO
[30]
"pockets"2017creature habits
"frank"2018 [upper-alpha 1] Non-album single
"nightmares"5482life's a beach
"temporary love"Non-album singles
"houseplants"2019
"sunday"spaceships
"earth"junk food
"nice guys"
"sangria"
(featuring Arlo Parks)
"dead celebrities"2020
"peanut butter" / "petty crime" [upper-alpha 2] see you later maybe never (demos)
"daydreams"life's a beach
"a message to myself"2021
"skeletons"14
"have a great day"9
"ocean view"18
"BEESWAX"2022MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE...
"DEAR MISS HOLLOWAY"
(featuring Kevin Abstract)
"OTT"
(featuring BENEE)
"FORTUNE COOKIE"
"trust exercises" [31] 20234Non-album single
"tears"2024___
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. "frank" did not enter the UK Single Sales Chart, but peaked at number four on the UK Physical Singles Chart. [22]
  2. "peanut butter" / "petty crime" did not enter the UK Single Sales Chart, but peaked at number 15 on the UK Physical Singles Chart. [22]

Awards and nominations

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2020 Easy LifeNME Best New British ActWon

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  28. Peaks in Iceland:
  29. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 21 July 2023.
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