Juan Alban & The Resentments

Juan Alban, who you might remember from the Epicure days, has teamed up with The Dead Salesmen’s Hap Hayward for a new single, Went Down Fighting.

With Hayward on lead vocals on the song they wrote together, Alban reflected with The Music, “Growing up in Ballarat, Hap and The Dead Salesmen were heroes to me, so it's been quite a thrill to do something together.” You can watch the music video below.

Hayward and guitarist Justin Ryda formed The Dead Salesmen in the late eighties and, like their peers in Epicure, showcased the thriving scene of Ballarat, Victoria, throughout the 90s and 2000s.

After forming in 1996, Epicure scored spots on the triple j Hottest 100 (2003 and 2004), opened for Live in 2003, and continued touring and making music until their disbandment in 2010.

On his first-ever collaboration with Alban, Hayward said in a press release, “Juan Alban and Hap Hayward got together on a series of school nights in late 2008 to see if they could write some songs together.

“Having been part of The Bridgey days (Bridge Mall Inn music scene of the 90s) and beyond in Ballarat in their respective bands (Epicure, Dead Salesmen), the two decided to collaborate in the extended wake/aftermath of those heady days. They wrote a smidgeon of half-songs together, with Juan supplying music and Hap the words. The sessions were taped on a small recorder, put in a box, and forgotten about. Kind of.”

Catch this amazing single launch at the Ev on Saturday 17th Feb!