‘THOSE WERE THE DAYS’ ARIENAS’ NOSTALGIC NEW RELEASE

SINGLE REVIEW | ARIENAS – THOSE WERE THE DAYS by Charlotte Cairnie 

The Scottish indie rock band Arienas are back with their latest single, ‘Those Were The Days‘, released on August 28th, and it’s the kind of song that makes you want to grab your mates, a couple of tinnies, and recreate the best summer nights of your life.

The new track is all about excitement, love and freedom, inspired by lead singer Sam writing the song during the first holiday of a new relationship. That feeling of wanting to freeze a moment in time really comes through, with the song looking back on those nights you wish you could experience all over again. With lyrics about running around drinking and wanting to be taken back to where it all started, ‘Those Were The Days’ has that nostalgic feeling without losing the energy that makes Arienas so fun to listen to.

Sonically, this tune has a warm, laidback feel that immediately gives the song its nostalgic edge. It isn’t overly dramatic or weighed down by the sentiment behind it; instead the relaxed tempo and softer production let the emotion sit naturally underneath the track. Arienas’ vocals feel intimate and effortless against the music, giving the song that slightly dreamy quality that makes it easy to get lost in. There’s something really familiar about the sound, almost like looking back through old photos or remembering a moment that you didn’t realise would become a memory at the time.

There’s also a real sense of movement to the track, with the instrumentation building around the vocals without ever taking away from them. The arrangement keeps things feeling light and natural, while little changes throughout the song stop it from becoming too predictable. It’s the kind of track that feels just as suited to having on in the background as it does to actually sitting down and listening to the lyrics. The overall sound has that lovely balance between feeling personal and still being incredibly easy to listen to, which makes the nostalgia at the heart of ‘Those Were The Days’ feel genuine rather than forced.

There’s something really relatable about a song centred around memories and wanting to relive the moments that made you happiest. ‘Those Were The Days’ captures that feeling perfectly while giving us another taste of what Arienas are capable of.

The band has had a busy summer playing festivals and dates across Scotland and England, building a growing fanbase with their mix of indie, alternative and rock. Their sound feels made for a live crowd, perfect for TRNSMT and Those Were The Days is no exception. It’s upbeat and extremely catchy, with the kind of energy that makes you want to scream it loud with your pals.

If you want to catch them live (you definitely do), you won’t have to wait long. Arienas are set to play dates in Preston, Glasgow and Fife later this year.

So if you’re looking for your next indie anthem to add to your playlist, then ‘Those Were The Days’ might just be it. Listen now on Spotify

About the Author

Charlotte Cairnie

Contributor

View All Posts