hard life have returned with new single ‘othello’, inspired by the board game

hard life have returned with new single ‘othello’, which arrives via Island EMI and premiered as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record.

The track, written and recorded by Murray Matravers in Japan, marks his first release since last summer’s ‘tears’. The new material follows a period of significant change for Matravers, including alterations to names, countries, and relationships.

“‘othello’ is a pun on the board game, but also draws from the play’s themes of trust, identity, and the destructive forces of unchecked emotions like jealousy,” Matravers explains.

“Relationships – whether personal, romantic, or professional – are rarely straightforward, and after making difficult decisions you sometimes cross this threshold of no return. ‘othello’ captures that moment of uncertainty, where someone leaves your life, and there’s a profound emptiness that takes over as you wallow in the unknown.”

The single emerged from Matravers’ spontaneous trip to Japan, where he collaborated with a fellow traveller named Taka. This followed a challenging period for hard life, which included legal battles and intense public scrutiny. The band have since reconvened in Leicester, with plans to return to the festival circuit this summer.

hard life’s previous works include two Number 2-charting albums and collaborations with artists including Arlo Parks, Kevin Abstract, and FINNEAS.