Big Special have shared new single ‘Only Free When Sleeping’, alongside news of a new EP O’Joy!, due for release on 5th June.
The track acts as a companion to the Black Country duo’s recent work, following the momentum of their debut album National Average. On ‘Only Free When Sleeping’, the pair lean into their stark, socially charged writing, framing the song around themes of escapism and helplessness.
Built on distorted guitar and gothic-leaning lyricism, the track is driven by Joe Hicklin’s direct, confrontational vocal, with the refrain “you’re only free when you’re sleeping” cutting through its dense atmosphere. The band describe it as a “head-down walking song”.
“When all the news is bad news and you just look at your feet and curse the cruelty and the faff of the modern day, your dreams make up a different story for you to smile at, just for a little bit,” they explain.
The incoming EP O’Joy! gathers material that didn’t make their earlier releases, with the band framing it as a continuation rather than a departure. They describe the project as a “smirking eye roll to dream and discomfort”, while maintaining a sense of defiance.
“Picking up the pen in the first place is an act of hope. Shit out the demons, turn them into music, then get everyone together for a big old bash,” they add, dedicating the EP to their late friend Handsome James Borrer.
Big Special will support the release with a run of festival appearances and UK dates, including sets at Bearded Theory, Boomtown, and Beautiful Days, alongside a James Borrer tribute show at London’s O2 Indigo.
O’Joy! lands on 5th June, and be sure to check out the band’s official store for more.
