As their new album Bigger Than All Of Us draws near, Above & Beyond return with ‘Start A Fire’, a deeply collaborative release that underscores their enduring bond with vocalist Richard Bedford. Debuted at Coachella in April, the track opened their set with both emotional weight and a sense of renewed creative unity.
The track’s origins trace back nearly a decade, when Paavo Siljamäki composed its instrumental skeleton. Although shelved for years, the idea never fully disappeared. Eventually, Tony McGuinness revisited it with a lyric that lingered in his songwriting journal: ‘There’s enough of you in me to start a fire’. That lone sentence evolved into a full narrative during a reflective moment at The Gorge, leading to what he describes as a conversational love song reminiscent of Dire Straits.
As the pieces fell into place, Bedford’s voice became the final touch. His delivery added nuance and warmth to the lyrics, transforming the track into a communal achievement. Jono Grant, McGuinness, and Siljamäki described the album’s creation as a moment of shared appreciation: ‘It’s not about any of us individually… when we all work together to make something happen, something bigger happens’.
Set to appear on their fifth artist album, the single marks a return to their most heartfelt collaborations while signaling a forward-looking chapter. The album is available now for pre-order in multiple formats through the Anjuna Music Store.
Stream Above & Beyond masterpiece on Spotify below or via your preferred platform here.
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