After a long creative drought and a turbulent few years, Murray Matravers is back—older, wiser, and more vulnerable than ever. On July 18, Hard Life (formally Easy Life) returns with their latest album, Onion—a record that doesn’t just peel back the layers, but lays everything bare.
Picture: Murray Matravers
“It’s been so long since I put a record out,” says Matravers. “It’s exciting to finally be doing it again. It’s been a difficult few years, so I’m just glad to be back doing what I love.”
Though fans might find familiar sounds in Onion, there’s a noticeable shift in tone. Known for clever, often tongue-in-cheek lyricism, Matravers says this album is different—more serious, more reflective, and, crucially, more honest.
From the Studio to the Soul
The name Onion comes not from metaphorical symbolism but geography. “It’s actually just the name of the studio in Tokyo where I made the album,” Murray explains, laughing. “My friend Yoshi had a studio in a building called Onion in an area called Chewakani. That’s it—it’s really as simple as that.”
Still, fans can’t help but draw parallels between the name and the music’s emotional weight. Tracks like Tears and Ogre give off a sense of fragility, intensity, and inward reflection. Whether by coincidence or creative instinct, Onion lives up to the layered complexity the name suggests.
Murray’s creative process also evolved. This time, everything came pouring out in just a month. “It was like a stream of consciousness,” he says. “Nothing was really edited. It all just came straight off the dome.” That spontaneity lends Onion a kind of rawness and immediacy that makes it feel unlike anything Hard Life has done before.
Writing From the Wounds
This is Matravers at his most exposed. “I’ve always written honestly, but this is definitely my most personal and raw record,” he says. “The older I get, the more comfortable I am telling my truth and talking about how I actually feel, rather than glamourising things.”
Much of the writing stemmed from notes and title ideas jotted down in passing—snippets of thoughts, moments of pain or clarity. Each title sparked a memory or emotional moment to be unpacked through songwriting. “That’s a real hack for me. If I don’t have a title, I don’t really have parameters. And staring at a blank canvas can be scary.”
One looming shadow over the album is the mysterious EasyJet situation—something Matravers can’t talk about publicly for legal reasons. But its emotional toll is unmistakable. “I was very much alone in that process,” he says. “The stress and loneliness of it definitely informed where my head was at.”
Rebirth Through Hard Life
Following the name change and personal upheaval, the band experienced a reset—both musically and emotionally. “Hard Life feels different,” says Matravers. “We were touring non-stop for years, and when that got taken away, we had to reevaluate everything. But this project? We don’t feel like we have to prove ourselves anymore.”
Despite years of uncertainty and setbacks, Onion is a testament to perseverance. “There was a long time where I didn’t think I’d ever make another record,” he says. “But somehow, this one just came. I had so much to say.”
And what he’s created is something that, for the first time, he calls his best work. “I’ve spent a lot of my career obsessing over production—overproducing at times—but Onion is just raw. There’s no barrier between me and the listener.”
What Onion Means
So, what does Matravers want fans to take away from the record?
“I think what I’ve learned is that things change. The way you feel about something now might be totally different in a week, a year, or a decade. That’s the core message.”
He’s curious, always, about what listeners find in the music. “People often tell me what my songs mean to them and it’s never something I even considered. That’s what makes it so powerful.”
Whether alone or shared among friends, Onion is the kind of record that offers connection in isolation. “It’s anecdotal and honest,” Murray says. “If it helps someone through a tough time, that’s everything.”
Hometown Shows and a New Beginning
With touring back on the horizon, the band is reinvigorated. “We were fatigued before,” he admits. “But now it feels like our first ever tour again.”
Their upcoming homecoming show at Rock City in Nottingham is a major milestone. “There’s always been a rivalry between Leicester and Nottingham, but for us, the Midlands is home,” he says. While the band used to play in Leicester, they’ve simply outgrown the venues—“We even played on a basketball court once,” he laughs.
These shows are more than a tour—they’re a celebration of survival, creativity, and resilience. “We’re just grateful to be doing this again,” Matravers says. “I never thought I’d make another album. But I did. And that alone means everything.”
To find out more about the album, visit: https://www.instagram.com/hardlifehardlifehardlife/?hl=en
