The Submarines feature Hazard’s authentic singing and plenty of infectious indie pop tunes. The vocals are still strong and clear, but Hazard’s sonic footing seems a bit unsure in these new songs without John Dragonetti.
PopMatters interviewed the couple before a show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg during a tour in support of their third full length album, 2011’s Love Notes/Letter Bombs. The couple was still mining their relationship for songwriting, a roller coaster of ups and downs that provided a genuine intention to communicate with fans, not just each other. Their voices also complemented each other just like their personalities seemed to, a yin and yang of outgoing Hazard and laid back Dragonetti.
The video (directed by Simone Leuck) for the single off this new album, “Colonade”, finds Hazard alone on a hotel bed evoking the past with a retro look topped off by her trademark blond braids. Take a listen to “Energy and Consequences”, with all the elements of a classic Submarines song. There’s quirky electronic flourishes over a standard band set up, soaring melody, and yes, heart on the sleeve lyrics about this new stage in life.
Fun fact: Hazard made a cameo appearance in Baz Luhrmann’s recent adaptation of her great-grandfather’s book, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald!