Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham—

Following the success of their rockabilly hit Joy Roller, Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham are keeping the momentum going with their bold new single, Tone Deaf.

Recorded with the same retro sensitivity that gave Joy Roller its irresistible charm, Tone Deaf blends driving rhythm with melodic hooks, echoing the classic sounds of a time when music was raw, vital and unaffected. It is an anthem of liberation for those who have been held down for too long and are taking a stand to reclaim themselves.

“We’ve all had experiences in life where we feel like we are dancing to someone or something else’s tune and losing a sense of who we are. The expectations of others and society at large can easily funnel you into a space where you wake up one day and ask, where am I and who have I become?” says Felicity.

“Being held back and held down is bad enough, but when your oppressor is tone deaf to your needs, it’s time to make yourself tone deaf to their song of control,” Felicity continues. “Tuning out is the first step in healing, but the ultimate growth comes from writing your own song to sing.”

This is where Tone Deaf stands tall as a shout of strength, defiance and self-reliance. Felicity and Josh felt it was important to shine a light on this all-too-common tale by focusing on the positivity of finding strength and getting free, rather than the heaviness of being held down. They sing the entire song together and deliver the emotionally charged lyric with an intensity which leaves no doubt they’re singing from their own real-life experiences.

Josh’s guitar playing thrums with urgency, embodying the angst of someone who has come to the realisation of just how controlled they have been. “Being under the thumb is crazy-making in itself, but that gets magnified when you reflect back and realise what you’ve endured,” he says. “There’s outrage and euphoria all mixed together and it’s quite intense. Because I have a very personal story around that, I just let those feelings filter through my guitar and it all came out a bit like Reg Mombassa’s whammy bar meets the Easybeats!”