Trace Mountains, the solo project of LVL UP’s Dave Benton, has dropped a new song called ‘Hard to Accept’. It’s taken from the upcoming record The Burning Blue, following earlier singles ‘In a Dream’ and ‘Friend’. Check it out via the accompanying video, directed by Alyx and Sam Soard, below.
Speaking about the song, Benton said:
[“Hard to Accept”] reflects on those moments when communication breaks down in a relationship and we’re left to piece everything together. When I brought the song to Craig, I was excited to collaborate with him because of his impressive work on the Japanese Breakfast records. I thought his arranging instincts would be a good match, and we quickly got to work crafting the rhythm section arrangement. In our first recording session together, munching on dried mango and blueberries, Craig and I breathed new life into “Hard to Accept” with a vibrant, danceable quality while being careful to maintain its emotionality. He really took his time with my vocal, capturing breath and air in the recording that made the performance sound more intimate. I think we were able to strike a balance between the heavy feelings and a more upbeat, cathartic vibe—combining tears, laughter, and a sort of defiant, night-drive-blasting-music, “No, really… I’m good” attitude.
Alyx and Sam Soard added: “In the quiet moments before everything falls apart, there’s a strange kind of peace, a calm as we face the finality of an ending. Often, it’s the refusal to listen—miscommunication and stubbornness—that drive us apart, whether in a relationship or on a global scale. We beg each other to change, but neither side can hear the other, and this breakdown is the crux of the problem. Just as personal missteps can end relationships, our collective unwillingness to address climate change mirrors this larger failure to act. In both cases, we cling to fleeting moments of joy, even as the bigger picture crumbles, finding some kind of meaning in the chaos while grappling with what we couldn’t change.”
Into the Burning Blue is set to arrive September 27 via Lame-O.
