Mann Friday’s fourth single off their upcoming album, Bridgenorth Road set for release on the 30th of June 2023, is a stirring ballad called “Hurricane” which poignantly expresses that no matter how tough it gets when you’re in a romantic relationship, there is no place you’d rather be than next to them.
When stacked against the singles that have come before it, “Hurricane” is a slower, more sombre single, the skeleton of which was written by frontman Rob Burrell in Mykonos circa 2005.
Burrell had constructed the first verse, chorus and a part of the bridge but didn’t finish it because the band had felt it didn’t fit their general discography at the time.
Mann Friday‘s Rob Burrell comments on “Hurricane”
“The skeleton was there. Sometimes there are older tracks in your closet that beckon with bony fingers after an age, and when I experienced a mid-life crisis recently, it brought the ghost of this song back to life. But the meaning has changed somewhat, here I’m saying, even if this person has hurt me, I would still prefer to be in this excruciating situation than not at all.”
“The opening line ‘Leaves fell that day, faster than the rain’ – I want the anchor of the track to resonate with people – that snapshot in time when stuff changed. I wanted people to identify with the first line because it captures a moment in time and everybody has a few of those right? And then I want people to realise that the decision to stay with someone is personal, it takes a lot of conviction to stay in a difficult situation rather than opting out.”
Mann Friday’s latest single is also one of three tracks that was produced by English guitarist and songwriter, Seton Daunt (Fiction Plane). Rob’s friendship with Seton was cemented when they met on the London gigging circuit and Rob fell in love with Fiction Plane’s guitarscapes.
Rob comments on Seton’s involvement with “Hurricane”
“There’s this cool tie between these old bands slumming it in London from 2007 to 2008, it’s almost like an old fraternal link that was forged 15 years earlier, so it was really satisfying for me to work with him, I have a lot of respect for him.”
At its core this song examines the delicate nature of the difficult choices we make and alongside producer Seton Daunt, Mann Friday have produced a top-notch ballad rooted in their best guitar work to date.
You can stream / download Mann Friday‘s “Hurricane” HERE.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.
To stay in the loop with all things SA Music, Subscribe to our newsletter or if you're looking for something to do, check out our SA Gig Guide.
If you like what we do and you want to support us, feel free to buy us a coffee!
Want to discover fresh music? Follow our editor's 2025 playlist on Spotify or YouTube Music. These playlists are updated regularly.
Living in South Africa and looking for a new smartphone? Check out Mondo Mobile - They partner with major networks to offer competitive deals, making it easy to find affordable options for your connectivity needs.