Hermitude Tackled A Nirvana Classic For ‘Like A Version’ And Pulled It Off
Sinister synth-strings, a disco beat and Jaguar Jonze on vocals: we're in love.
Hermitude are currently rolling higher than the Blue Mountains from which they descended.
They’ve just dropped album number six, Pollyanarchy, and are set to take it on the road with a massive tour next month. Their latest stop on the comeback trail was visiting the triple j studios to partake in ‘Like a Version’, which marks their third time on the segment.
The duo first took it on back in 2009 with a take on Björk’s ‘Joga,’ following it up in 2012 with a cover of Major Lazer’s ‘Get Free’ featuring All Our Exes Live in Texas singer Elana Stone filling the Amber Coffman role. Similarly for their 2019 edition, Hermitude didn’t come alone – they enlisted Brisbane singer Jaguar Jonze to join them in the studio, as well as Indigenous rapper (and outspoken triple j critic) Jimblah.
While the latter helped out on the original cut, ‘OneFourThree,’ the former was enlisted for an entirely-unexpected cover: ‘Heart-Shaped Box,’ the 1993 classic from grunge icons Nirvana. Needless to say, what Hermitude have done with the In Utero single is a fairly drastic reinvention.
It stays in the same chordal wheelhouse, the melody remaining very much in-tact, but Kurt Cobain’s distinctive guitar is replaced with a wall of synth-strings and buzzing arpeggios and Dave Grohl’s loud-quiet-loud drumming is ousted in favour of a sharp, precise disco beat.
Jonze, meanwhile, certifiably kills her part — it’s her confidence and conviction in the performance that serves as a big reason this whole thing gets over the line. Her soulful take on the vocal is somewhat reminiscent of Charles Bradley’s unforgettable take on Nirvana’s ‘Stay Away,’ and one can only hope this performance gets her own music the boost it deserves.
So, how have people responded? So far, so good. At the time of writing, it’s sitting at over 200 likes on YouTube to about 25 dislikes – and considering how much people shat on the last time Nirvana were given the LAV treatment, it’s a strong sign that Hermitude’s big risk has paid off.
Check out both ‘Heart-Shaped Box’ and the band’s performance of ‘OneFourThree’ below.