Edge of Town
| "Edge of Town" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Middle Kids | ||||
| from the album Middle Kids | ||||
| Released | May 2016 | |||
| Label | Middle Kids, UMA | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Hannah Joy | |||
| Producer(s) | Tim Fritz | |||
| Middle Kids singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Edge of Town" on YouTube | ||||
"Edge of Town" is a song by Australian group Middle Kids released in May 2016 as their debut single and lead single from the group's self-titled debut EP. The song is a "non-fictional account of a girl who got swallowed up by the earth".[1]
In November 2016, the song won FBi Radio's Northern Lights competition and shortly after, the group performed at the Iceland Airwaves music festival in Reykjavik.[2]
In February 2017, the group made their US television debut and performed the song on Conan.[3]
The song was certified gold in Australia in 2019 and platinum in February 2024.
Background[edit]
Middle Kids uploaded "Edge of Town" onto Triple J Unearthed and became "the blueprint" for the group's formula. In 2018, band member Tim Fitz said "I think there was a spirit in that song that felt very special and I think in some ways that set at a certain direction for how we were trying to write songs." Hannah Joy added "I feel that it's optimistic. It's obviously very angsty, but there is a thread of hope through it all. I feel like it's definitely dealing with a lot of kind of angst and confusion and pain but there's definitely, through it all, an unswerving hope."[4]
Music video[edit]
The music video was directed by Tim Fitz and Ro Miles and released on 20 May 2016.
Reception[edit]
Alexandra Koster from FBi Radio said "'Edge of Town' is as catchy as it is complex, guiding us through the tale of a girl who is swallowed up by the earth. Joy's exquisite vocals aren't just a whole lot of fun – they're also deeply intelligent... And here I am, on one knee, giving them all the praise I can muster."[5]
Certifications[edit]
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[6] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References[edit]
- ^ "Middle Kids". Triple J Unearthed. 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Middle Kids in Iceland: Video & Photos from FBi's Northern Lights winners". FBi Radio. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Tom Williams (February 2017). "Sydney Band Middle Kids Went On 'Conan' And Absolutely Smashed It". Music Feeds. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ Nat Tencic (8 May 2018). "Middle Kids sound like family on their soaring debut album". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Independent Artist of the Week". FBi Radio. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
- ^ "Feb Single Accreds 2024" (PDF). ARIA. March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.