HAIR CONTROL shares new single “Seeing In The Dark,” the second single in their upcoming album “Electric Pleasure.”
Calgary AB art-pop duo HAIR CONTROL (Ryan Bourne & Rebecca Reid) has new single “Seeing In The Dark,” a propulsive power-pop anthem that balances existential yearning with exuberant optimism.
The song blends driving synth-pop textures, cinematic pop-rock energy, and the pair’s signature existential workout aesthetic. It transforms uncertainty into movement, finding a space of transcendence amidst the darkness of the times.
The song was originally inspired by a dream melody that arrived complete with the phrase “We The Ugly People,” recalling Leonard Cohen’s classic line “we are ugly but we have the music” as well as Pulp’s “Common People.”
The chorus lyric drew from this sly sense of solidarity. Other than that, it also draws influence from the spiritual yearning and melodic immediacy of classic mid-’70s power pop, particularly Dwight Twilley Band’s “Looking for the Magic.”
The song now emerges as a celebration of collective connection and shared resilience, built around a Roland 909 drum machine groove, beats, bass, synths, and guitars as it was tracked into a Tascam 246 Portastudio cassette recorder for a rich, warm foundation.
As the lyrics developed, Bourne imagined a dark, rain-soaked road trip unfolding at midnight, with lovers leaving their hometown behind and heading west toward the ocean.
The title is the central metaphor, expressing the ability to find clarity amid uncertainty and beauty amid darkness. It suggests a collective awakening happening in real time, instead of some distant hopeful future.
The song continues HAIR CONTROL’s playful approach to pop experimentation. A heavily filtered synth lead traces the melody throughout the entire arrangement, serving simultaneously as compositional framework and featured instrument.
But despite its power-pop spirit, the track contains virtually no traditional chord playing. It relies on layered single-note lines that intertwine to create momentum, texture, and emotional lift.
The song was created during a series of late-night sessions in the duo’s studio at Art Castle – a 1940s home in Calgary whose facade was transformed in the mid-70s into a castle complete with spiral staircase leading up to a turret.
The birdsong, the atmosphere of quiet urgency and natural beauty seeped into the creative process, becoming part of the broader sonic world surrounding Electric Pleasure.
The song was mixed by acclaimed producer Lorrie Matheson, and it gained additional lift through Reid’s silky vocal harmonies, adding a polished pop sheen without ceding the song’s homemade spirit.
“Seeing in the Dark” is the 2nd single in HAIR CONTROL’s upcoming album, following the release of “TV in the Afterlife.”
Catch the duo’s forthcoming debut album “Electric Pleasure” on October 30, 2026.
Press Release
