hard life return with new single 'othello'

hard life – the reinvented moniker of Murray Matravers – returns today with the release of ‘othello’, a deeply personal yet boldly revitalised single marking the start of a fearless new chapter. Premiered as BBC Radio 1’s Hottest Record and out now via Island EMI, ‘othello’ is Matravers’ first release since last year’s ‘tears’ and arrives after a transformative period of change, reflection, and rebirth.

Written and recorded in Japan, ‘othello’ fuses stripped-back acoustics with hook-driven hip-hop elements, creating a soundscape as emotionally intricate as it is sonically adventurous. It explores the fallout of fractured relationships—personal and professional—and the grey areas that follow. Inspired by the classic board game and Shakespeare’s play, the track reflects on identity, jealousy, and the threshold moments that change everything.

“There’s this moment when someone leaves your life and you’re stuck in the vacuum left behind,” says Matravers. “It’s not always black and white, comedy or tragedy. Sometimes you just sit in the middle of it all, waiting for something to make sense again.”