Format Digital download Length 3:45 | Genre Dance-pop
electropop Label Capitol | |
Released August 24, 2016 (2016-08-24) Writer(s) Luke Steele
Nick Littlemore
Peter Mayes
Donnie Sloan | ||
"High and Low" is a song by Australian electronic duo Empire of the Sun. It was released in August 2016 as the lead single from their third studio album, Two Vines.
Group member Nick Littlemore gave details of the track during its premiere on American radio station KROQ, saying "It was about this girl I knew when I was a kid called Alice D who was kind of a wild child. She did all kinds of crazy things. We wanted to write a song that captured the innocence and bravery of youth, and being a teenager, and having these kind of experiences where you throw caution to the wind and you try things for the first time."
The song features on a Holden commercial airing during the eighth season of The X Factor Australia and features host Jason Dundas. This song was also featured in EA Sports game, FIFA 17 as soundtrack.
Additional remixes were released in October 2016.
Critical reception
Ryan Reed from Rolling Stone described the song as "pulsating", adding; "Acoustic guitar chords give way to booming synth-pads on the chorus, as singer Luke Steele sings wistfully: 'If I had my way/ Never let you go.'"
Collin Robinson from Stereogum described the song as "a slow-building slice of euphoria with big drums, grand synths, and swishing ambient sweeps."
Lars Brandle of Billboard described the song as "a straight-up party tune which flows with melodies, synths and good times."