Lost Map Records are excited to welcome Glasgow based synth-pop purveyors of feelgood sad songs Happy Spendy to the label roster, with the release of their brand-new compilation album You’re Doing Okay on 12” vinyl and via digital services on June 5, 2020. Gathering together all three of Happy Spendy’s EPs released between 2017-2020 in one place for the first time, it’s a collection of songs which act almost like a diary for singer and songwriter Eimear Coyle, marking milestones in grief and falling in love. Not to mention a comprehensive survey of everything that has made Happy Spendy one of Scotland’s most instantly loveable new bands of recent years. To announce the album, a new video for the track ‘Fresh Air’ is available to watch and share now.
Eimear started Happy Spendy to help her work through some tough times, and brought it to life with Glasgow friends Kieran Coyle, Rosie Pearse, Siobhain Ma and Connell King. Eimear and her drummer/producer brother Kieran had previously played together in indie-pop band Wonder Villains, the soundtrack to their teenage years growing up in Derry, Northern Ireland. Eimear relocated to Glasgow five years ago and began writing songs more about love and loss and less about football and celebrities. Happy Spendy self-released their debut EP You Look Lovely in 2017 and the follow-up Take Care of Yourself in 2018. DIY described their first EP as “a big fuzzy pop hug” and GoldFlakePaint said it was “a true hidden gem”. They went on to support some of their favourite artists including Self Esteem, Lomelda, The Spook School, The Vaselines and Bossy Love.
Early in 2020 Happy Spendy began a new chapter working with Lost Map with the release of the single ‘Feelings 2’, a track poignantly reflecting on the past couple of years since the Coyles’ father died. Backed by a happiest of hardcore remixes by Lost Map labelmate Coatbridge polymath Romeo Taylor, it received radio support from BBC 6 Music’s Gideon Coe and BBC Radio Scotland’s Roddy Hart, and preceded the release of Ready When You Are, the third Happy Spendy EP.
“I like writing sad lyrics to help me through my feelings (or two),” says Eimear, “but as an otherwise cheery person I enjoy the juxtaposition of disguising my sad songs behind fun melodies and keyboard sounds. And performing them on stage with all my best pals.”
