Derry multi-instrumentalist and self-proclaimed outsider Neil Burns (aka Comrade Hat) has shared Deep Sleep – the final single from his upcoming ‘Old Gods, Vol. 1’ LP. Burns’ sonically rich production has taken him far beyond the walls of Derry City and landed him a coveted spot at Canadian music week.

The track is reminiscent of the more experimental cuts from Elliott Smith’s catalogue, with Burns layering his voice over hypnotic drum machine loops and a steady bass line laid down by longtime collaborator Rohan Armstrong. A rich pedal steel guitar seeps the track in comforting harmony and lends a touch of Americana to Deep Sleep – the song wouldn’t be out of place in a David Lynch film.

“I have always been something of an outsider,” says Burns of his upcoming LP.

“I was an only child, a bit of a loner, unsure of myself and my sexuality. I’ve always been comfortable with solitude. I’ve never fitted neatly into a scene, musical or otherwise, so I created my own.

“Music has helped me come to terms with who I am, with life. A navigational tool. A, better, parallel universe of feeling. It’s the one place I can fully be myself. I think this is the most honest record I have made.”

Comrade Hat’s ‘Old Gods, Vol. 1’ LP will be released on all streaming platforms 13 April, 2021.