Hatchie & Meernaa Share Songs For Secretly Canadian’s 25th Anniversary

Today, with the release of two transfixing new tracks from Hatchie and rising Oakland band Meernaa, Secretly Canadian enters the second half of its 25th Anniversary singles series. Consisting of 25 songs, covers and collaborations conceived in honor of the record label’s landmark occasion, SC25 Singles has featured contributions from Bartees Strange, Tasha, Current Joys, Madison McFerrin, Jim James, NNAMDÏ, Skullcrusher, Stella Donnelly, Porridge Radio and more since launching this past spring. Like each of the initiatives encompassed by the sweeping SC25 campaign, Every Light On This Side of the Town, all net proceeds from SC25 Singles benefit Secretly Canadian’s goal to raise $250,000 for local non-profit organization New Hope For Families, in a mission to aid all families experiencing homelessness within Secretly’s hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. 

On “Crush,” recent Secretly Canadian signee Hatchie fulfills her long-building desire to reimagine Jennifer Paige’s 1998 global pop hit, filtering its inescapable hooks and cheerful refrain through dense, dreamy and spellbinding walls of sound. Meernaa further expand their fusion of the celestial and soulful with “Bells,” a previously unreleased, original song that the group gifted specially for SC25. 

Listen to both of the new SC25 Singles, and revisit previous installments HERE

“I’d been thinking of covering ‘Crush’ for a few years before this opportunity arose,” says Hatchie’s Harriette Pilbeam. “I always thought the lyrics were much more moody than the bright chorus they were paired with, so I wanted to shift the focus. I was super keen to be involved with SC25 when asked. It’s cool to be amongst some great artists doing the same.”

Meernaa’s Carly Bond adds, “This song was written a little while back. It was the kind of song that just came out without much thought, all feeling. After writing ‘Bells’ I didn’t know what to do with it, it didn’t really seem to fit into the current project I was working on; it felt like it needed its own space. When I was asked to contribute to the compilation and learned about how it was to contribute 100% of the profits to support New Hope for Families, it felt like a beautiful opportunity to gift it freely and with purpose.”

In addition to the year-long series of SC25 Singles, Secretly Canadian has been marking its 25th Anniversary with SC25 Editions – a collection of 12 classic albums originally released by the label, newly reissued with limited edition packaging, colored vinyl variants, exclusive essays, art prints and more. Out December 3rd, the final four installments include pressings of Songs: Ohia‘s 1997 self-titled debut, Zero Boys‘ A Vicious Circle, Foreign Born‘s Person to Person and Faye Webster‘s Atlanta Millionaire’s Club. Previous titles include beloved records from ANOHNI, Tig Notaro, The War on Drugs, Whitney and more who have helped define Secretly Canadian’s past quarter-century of history and growth, from a Bloomington basement into “one of the most respected independent labels in the world” (Variety). 

Order SC25 Editions, with all net proceeds also benefiting New Hope For Families HERE

As the only place in Bloomington and the greater Monroe County where families with children can find shelter together, New Hope For Families accepts families as they self-define, inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities. There are currently a reported 334 unhoused people in Bloomington, including 81 children and 34 families. Unlike most shelters in the US, New Hope does not separate male and female populations, and with Secretly Canadian’s donation of $250,000, the organization can build a housing unit to serve 20 families in a year (800 families in its 40-year lifespan), or provide services to 40 families for the full duration of their time with New Hope, covering housing, case management, deposits on rent or permanent housing, childcare and other special needs.