49th & Main (consisting of producer Ben O’Sullivan and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Paddy King) share a new single “Self Sabotage”. The new single is the perfect representation of a sonic evolution forged through trials and tribulations. 

The duo were separated for much of 2023 when O’Sullivan was forced to take a year off the road while he underwent treatment for a rare blood disease aplastic anaemia. O’Sullivan spent much of his time at home focusing on production. This resulted in him widening the band’s sonic palette, looking at more genres, such as drum ‘n’ bass and garage, and weaving those influences into the 49th & Main world.

“It’s a familiar sound, which I think is a nice way of easing people back in, but they’ll also hear something a little different,” O’Sullivan explains. A dark-themed house tune, it’s a club banger with an important message. “The theme behind it is someone in a club not knowing when to stop,” says King. Despite the deeper context, the subtext is delivered over upbeat production and, as O’Sullivan says, “in our own 49th & Main fun way”. Consequently, the track can be received varyingly: “if you want to look a bit deeper there’s something there, but if you don’t and just want to dance that’s fine too”. 

Armed with new tunes ready to play out, and having recently been in the studio with underground dance favourites SHEE, Maya Randle and A Little Sound, the pair are more eager than ever to get back on tour together – especially O’Sullivan, whose last live show was in January 2023. “We’re going to take everything in our stride over the next few months,” said King. “The goal is to make a splash again: we’re back and not going anywhere.” 

49th & Main's new single, “Self Sabotage”, is out now on Counter Records. 

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