- 2026-04-26
-
MUSIC
-
Howells Releases Debut EP “Fade into Being (Part 1)”
Calgary-based heavy alt-rock band Howells, consisting of Benjamin Howells (vocals/guitar), Dylan Mackay (guitar), Kwesi Cripps (bass), Edison Grove (drums), released their debut EP “Fade into Being (Part 1)” along with a new music video for “Overflow” on April 24, 2026.
The EP “Fade into Being” consists of two parts, with Part 2 set to be released this fall.
The EP comprises 6 tracks, featuring Canadian rock band Folded Hand and Canadian emo band Astrology Girl, co-produced by Devin Taylor.
The band frontman Benjamin Howells told IDIOTEQ about the EP, “Part 1 is notably more dark and heavy than part 2. Part 2 doesn't have any screams and the songs feel less somber and aggressive. The songs varied enough that I felt part 2 needed to have its own album cover theme to separate the 2 releases. The songs are definitely of the same ilk (we recorded them at the same time) but there is an unmistakable difference between the 2 sets of songs and I needed to highlight that.”- He said of the cover art of the EP, “I've always been a bit fascinated with time and death, not the macabre part but the spiritual part of it. I entered a new stage of life while making this EP and I had been reflecting on the different stages of my life, wondering if I had already begun decaying metaphorically. The deer's head reflects themes of transformation and wanting to fade away/Dissolve, which can all be heard lyrically on this EP.”
-
The band explained track-by-track for the EP.
“The Pressure”
“THE PRESSURE is about hiding yourself and wearing an emotional mask for so long that you start to feel like no one knows the real you.”
“Dissolve”
“DISSOLVE is about staying silent long after you should've screamed. About hiding yourself for so long that you start to fade away. The Dissolve video reflects the lyrics 'I am not what I appear'. This song was written for everyone fighting a silent struggle. For those who feel like they're struggling to stay above water.”
“8 Fold Fence” featuring Folded Hand
“8 Fold Fence is about the emotional masks we wear and how they slowly isolate us from our friends and family. Tyler from Folded Hand blessed us with a beautiful verse which transformed the song. This song is about the walls we build around ourselves. How they keep us safe and also isolate us from everyone. This one gets heavy.”
“Overflow” featuring Astrology Girl
“Writing 'Overflow' with Astrology Girl was effortless. They’re exceptional songwriters-sharp instincts, no hesitation. Chaos, but the right kind. I knew I had to make music with Astrology Girl since I first heard them. After chatting on instagram, these two guys (Casper and Blake) I had never met before showed up at my studio. Somehow, we didn't hate each other, and finishing the song Overflow together was the EASIEST part of the album.
I didn’t want to just release songs. I wanted to build a world-something transitory, like a dream you can’t quite hold onto. Every visual detail feeds into that. One space, fragments of narrative, everything connected.” - source : Apple Music
