Forged in 2017 by legendary producer and Garbage drummer/co-founder Butch Vig, producer Andy Jenks, and DJ James Grillo, 5 Billion in Diamonds has been a project based on collaboration from the very beginning. Yet as they begin ideating their third album, they’re leaning into that tendency by expanding their lineup on new single “Waiting to Land,” which originated during a jam session at the famed Joshua Tree studio Rancho De La Luna with Silversun Pickups vocalist Brian Aubert joining on bass and Eagles of Death Metal’s Dave Catching and Mojave Lords’ Bingo Richey on guitar before an unexpected visit from NO vocalist Bradley Hanan Carter provided the ensemble with the final piece to their puzzle. “He wasn’t scheduled,” Vig recalls, “[he] just popped by to hang out, as one does at RDLL. And in that serendipitous moment, he spun lyrics and melody out of thin air. It was pure magic.”
The wide-screen, Western-esque ballad is a “natural progression” for the band, according to Vig, a slow-lurching variant on the more upbeat psychedelic sounds heard in their prior discography. “We’ve consistently infused cinematic elements into our music, drawing inspiration from film soundtracks. Collaboration has always been key; we give artists the freedom to explore their own creative paths, which often leads to unexpected sonic landscapes. Bradley’s contribution added a poignant melancholy to the track that elevated it to another level.”
Meanwhile, Vig attests to the song’s philosophical bent when introducing its official video, which wasn’t filmed far from the studio. “We’re diving deep into the existential abyss, grappling with uncertainty and purpose. Sheva Kafai’s vision with the desert landscape in Joshua Tree serves as a powerful metaphor for our inner struggles. Shooting there felt like a return to our musical roots at Rancho De La Luna, completing a full circle of creativity. In the silence of the desert, we find solace, crafting a symphony of liberation.”
Check it out below, and expect more new music from 5BID in the near future.
