Hard Life
{{Short description|English indie/alternative band}}
{{Tone|date=October 2022}}{{EngvarB|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{about||the 1961 novel|The Hard Life{{!}}The Hard Life|the song by Kodak Black|Hard Life (song)|the song by Summer Walker|Hardlife (song)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Hard Life
| origin = Leicester, England
| image = EasyLifeVoz.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Hard Life in April 2019
| landscape = yes
| alias = Easy Life (2017–2023)
| years_active = 2017–present
| genre = {{hlist|Indie pop|hip-hop|pop}}
| label = Island
| website = {{URL|hardlifemusic.co.uk/}}
| current_members = * Murray Matravers
- Oliver Cassidy
- Lewis Berry
- Jordan Birtles
| past_members = Sam Hewitt
}}
Hard Life (stylised in all lowercase),{{cite web |title=Hard Life - Apple Music |url=https://music.apple.com/us/artist/hard-life/1362698163 |website=Apple Music |access-date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606094406/https://music.apple.com/us/artist/hard-life/1362698163 |archive-date=6 June 2024}} formerly known as Easy Life, is an English alternative indie pop group formed in Leicester in 2017. They came second in the 2020 edition of the BBC's Sound of..., an annual music poll of music critics and industry figures to find the most promising new music talent. Their third mixtape, Junk Food, reached No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart a day after its release. Their debut studio album, Life's a Beach, was released on 28 May 2021.{{Cite web |title=Easy Life – official website |url=https://www.easylifemusic.com/ |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Easy Life – official website |language=en}}
The band ceased performing under the Easy Life name in October 2023, after they announced that they were being sued by easyGroup over the use of the "easy" name and were unable to financially fight the dispute in court.{{cite news |last1=Beaumont-Thomas |first1=Ben |title=Pop group Easy Life forced to change name after objection from easyGroup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/oct/10/pop-group-easy-life-forced-to-change-band-name-amid-dispute-with-easyjet-owner |website=The Guardian |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=10 May 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=Will |title=Easy Life live in London: an emotional farewell amid legal drama |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/easy-life-live-in-london-setlist-legal-drama-3515655 |website=NME |date=16 October 2023 |access-date=10 May 2024}} In June 2024 the band returned under the new name of Hard Life.
History
The band was formed by frontman Murray Matravers in mid-2017.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/hard-life/1362698163|title=Easy Life on Apple Music|website=Apple Music}} They released their first single, "Pockets", via Chess Club Records in November 2017,{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/song-of-the-day/easy-life-pockets|title=Easy Life make a stunning debut with "Pockets" and sign to Chess Club Records|website=Thelineofbestfit.com}} and subsequently signed to Island Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.islandrecords.co.uk/island-artists/easy-life/|title=Easy Life – Artists – Island Records|website=Islandrecords.co.uk}} They released their debut mixtape, Creature Habits in April 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.bornmusiconline.com/review-easy-life-creature-habits/|title=Review: Easy Life – 'Creature Habits' – Born Music|date=18 April 2018|website=Bornmusiconline.com}} Following the release of the singles, "Frank" in July 2018{{cite web|url=https://www.withguitars.com/easy-life-premiere-new-single-frank-announce-uk-headline-tour-island-records/|title=Easy Life premiere new single 'Frank' + announce UK headline tour (Island Records)|date=12 July 2018|website=Withguitars.com}} and "Nightmares" in September 2018,{{Cite web|url=https://www.readdork.com/news/easy-lifes-new-track-nightmares-is-anything-but|title=Easy Life's new track 'Nightmares' is anything but|website=Dork|date=28 September 2018 }} the band appeared on Later... with Jools Holland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006ml0l/episodes/guide|title=BBC Two – Later... with Jools Holland – Episode guide|publisher=BBC}} The band finished 2018 by releasing their fourth single, "Temporary Love Part 1" (with B-side "Temporary Love Part 2"), in December.{{Cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2018/12/07/easy-life-share-two-new-tracks-temporary-love-pt-1-2|title=Easy Life share two new tracks 'Temporary Love Pt. 1 & 2'|website=DIY|date=7 December 2018 }} In 2022 they took to Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage, this was their second Glastonbury appearance and a remarkable step-up from their first on BBC Introducing. They featured alongside former Brockhampton member Kevin Abstract, who joined them on stage and promptly forgot his verse.
They released their second mixtape, Spaceships, containing the single "Sunday" in March.{{Cite web|url=http://diymag.com/2019/03/19/easy-life-share-mixtape-Spaceships|title=Easy Life share mixtape, 'Spaceships'|website=DIY|date=19 March 2019 }} They headlined the BBC Introducing stage at the Glastonbury Festival in June.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5Qy6Wzlp2nRcj4PFLGNvMYH/bbc-music-introducing-at-glastonbury-festival-2019|title=BBC Music – BBC Music Introducing – BBC Music Introducing at Glastonbury Festival 2019|publisher=BBC}} Debuting as Annie Mac's "Hottest Record" on BBC Radio 1 in July, the band released the single "Earth". The music video, commenting on environmental issues, was shot at a plastic recycling plant in Morocco.{{Cite web|url=https://www.readdork.com/news/easy-life-video-for-earth|title=Easy Life highlight environmental concerns with their new video for 'Earth'|website=Dork|date=17 July 2019 }}
The band released their debut album Life's a Beach on 28 May 2021. It reached the number two spot on the UK Albums Chart.
They released their second album Maybe in Another Life... on 7 October 2022.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Sophie |date=2022-10-06 |title=Easy Life – 'Maybe In Another Life...' review: soulful snapshots grappling with post-pandemic strife |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/easy-life-maybe-in-another-life-review-3319791 |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=NME |language=en-GB}} Like the band's first album, it also reached the number two spot on the UK Albums Chart.
=Litigation and rebranding=
In October 2023, The Times reported that Easy Life were being sued for trademark infringement by EasyGroup, a venture capital conglomorate.{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/easyjet-forces-high-flying-band-easy-life-to-change-name-l30vslkqn|title=Easyjet owner sues Easy Life over band name|last=Kampfner|first=Constance|date=3 October 2023|work=The Times|access-date=19 June 2024|url-access=subscription}} The company alleged that the band used their branding and imagery of EasyJet, a subsidiary of the group, in their 2021 and 2022 Life's a Beach tour.{{Cite news |date=2023-10-03 |title=Easy life: Band say easyJet brand owner suing over name |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-66992158 |access-date=2023-10-04}} The band confirmed the lawsuit in a statement posted to their Instagram and X accounts, saying that they found the whole situation hilarious but they were "virtually powerless against such a massive corporation."{{Cite web |last=Hogg|first=Ryan|date=2023-10-04 |title=EasyJet owner sues band Easy Life to force it to change its name and accuses members of being 'brand thieves' |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/easyjet-owner-sues-band-easy-110956428.html |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=Yahoo Finance |publisher=Fortune|language=en-US}} In a statement to the BBC and The Guardian, a spokesman for EasyGroup referred to the band as "brand thieves." Following EasyGroup's statement the band posted a timeline of their activities from as early as 2015, and then referenced EasyGroup's trademark application for "Easylife" which had been registered in August 2022.
Later that month, Easy Life announced that they would change their name because they did not have the financial resources to continue fighting the litigation. They played their final performances under the Easy Life name on 12 October 2023 at O2 Academy Leicester, and on 13 October 2023 at Koko in London.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-67071086|title=Easy life: EasyJet brand owner row prompts band name switch|last=Jefford|first=Will|date=11 October 2023|publisher=BBC|access-date=19 June 2024}}
On 11 June 2024, the band announced their rebrand to Hard Life and released their new single "Tears" the same day.{{cite news |last1=Nanji |first1=Noor |title=Easy Life band renamed after EasyGroup legal row |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce44z7pgn29o |access-date=11 June 2024 |work=BBC News |date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611192555/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce44z7pgn29o |archive-date=11 June 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Daisy |title=Easy Life rebrand as Hard Life and share new single "Tears" |url=https://diymag.com/news/easy-life-hard-life-new-single-tears |access-date=11 June 2024 |work=DIY |date=11 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240611205900/https://diymag.com/news/easy-life-hard-life-new-single-tears |archive-date=11 June 2024}}
In April 2025, the band announced a new album, “Onion”, to be released on July 18, 2025, and released a new single, “Othello”.
Band members
- Murray Matravers – vocals, synthesizer, keyboard, trumpet
- Oliver Cassidy – drums, percussion
- Lewis Alexander Berry – guitar, bass guitar
- Jordan Birtles – percussion, keyboard, backing vocals
=Past member=
- Sam Hewitt – bass guitar, saxophone, backing vocals (2017–2024, Sam made an announcement about his departure from the band via Instagram Stories.){{Cite web |last= |date=2024-05-28 |title=Sam made an announcement about his departure from the band via Instagram Stories. |url=http://www.reddit.com/r/easylife/comments/1d2m0sw/interesting_relaunch_news/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=r/easylife}}{{better source|date=March 2025}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope°"col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |
| scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| UK {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/55010/easy-life/|title=Easy Life {{!}} Full Official Chart history|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=18 January 2020}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| IRE ! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| SCO |
|---|
| scope="row"| Life's a Beach
| | 2 || 47 || 4 | |
| scope="row"| Maybe in Another Life...
|
| 2 || — || 2 | |
| scope="row"| Onion
|
| — || — || — | |
| colspan="8" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
=Mixtapes=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of mixtapes, with selected details and chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Title ! rowspan="2"| Details ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| UK ! scope="col" style="width:3em; font-size:90%"| SCO |
|---|
| scope="row"| Creature Habits
|
| — || — |
| scope="row" |Spaceships
|
| — || — |
| scope="row" |Junk Food
|
| 7 || 23 |
| scope="row" |See You Later Maybe Never (Demos)
|
| — || — |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |
|---|
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK Sales ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| ICE
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| JPN ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SCO |
| scope="row"| "Pockets"
| 2017 | — || — || — || — | | Creature Habits |
| scope="row"| "Frank"
| rowspan="3"| 2018 | —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Frank" did not enter the UK Single Sales Chart, but peaked at number four on the UK Physical Singles Chart.}} || — || — || — | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |
| scope="row"| "Nightmares"
| 54 || — || — || 82 | | life's a beach |
| scope="row"| "Temporary Love"
| — || — || — || — | | rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Houseplants"
| rowspan="5"| 2019 | — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Sunday"
| — || — || — || — | | Spaceships |
| scope="row"| "Earth"
| — || — || — || — | | rowspan="4"| Junk Food |
| scope="row"| "Nice Guys"
| — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "sangria" {{small|(featuring Arlo Parks)}} | — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Dead Celebrities"
| rowspan="3"| 2020 | — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Peanut Butter" / "Petty Crime"
| —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"Peanut Butter" / "Petty Crime" did not enter the UK Single Sales Chart, but peaked at number 15 on the UK Physical Singles Chart.}} || — || — || — | | See You Later Maybe Never (Demos) |
| scope="row"| "Daydreams"
| — || — || — || — | | rowspan="5"| life's a beach |
| scope="row"| "A Message to Myself"
| rowspan="4"| 2021 | — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Skeletons"
| — || 14 || 16 || — | |
| scope="row"| "Have a Great Day"
| — || 9 || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Ocean View"
| — || 18 || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Beeswax"
| rowspan="4"| 2022 | — || — || — || — | | rowspan="4"| Maybe in Another Life... |
| scope="row"| "Dear Miss Holloway" {{small|(featuring Kevin Abstract)}} | — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "OTT" {{small|(featuring BENEE)}} | — || — || — || — |
| scope="row"| "Fortune Cookie"
| — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Trust Exercises"{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/trust-exercises-single/1710785008|title=Trust Exercises - Single by Easy Life|website=Apple Music|accessdate=13 October 2023}}
| 2023 | 4 || — || — || — | | rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Tears"
| 2024 | — || — || — || — | |
| scope="row"| "Othello"{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/hard-life-easy-life-new-single-othello-listen-49430/|title=Hard Life return with new single ‘Othello’|website=Rolling Stone|date=9 April 2025|accessdate=24 April 2025|first=Will|last=Richards}}
| rowspan="1"| 2025 | — || — || — || — | | rowspan="1"| Onion |
| colspan="10" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
=Notes=
{{notelist-ua}}
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://hardlifemusic.co.uk}}
Category:Musical groups established in 2017
Category:English alternative rock groups