Leave a Trace

"Leave a Trace"
Single by CHVRCHES
from the album Every Open Eye
Released 17 July 2015 (2015-07-17)
Format
Recorded 2015
Genre Synthpop
Length 3:57
Label
Writer(s) Iain Cook, Martin Doherty, Lauren Mayberry
Producer(s) Chvrches
CHVRCHES singles chronology
"Tether"
(2015)		 "Leave a Trace"
(2015)		 "Never Ending Circles"
(2015)

"Leave a Trace" is a song by Scottish synthpop band Chvrches from their second studio album Every Open Eye. It was released as the band's first official single on 17 July 2015 via Virgin and Goodbye Records.[1]

Background

During an interview with Pitchfork, Lauren Mayberry said of the song:[2]

“Leave a Trace” is the middle finger mic-drop. It’s about that point where you’re like, “There’s no point having this conversation anyways: There will be no resolve, I won’t feel better about it, you won’t feel better about it, no outcome from this will actually change my reality.” It makes me feel better to write about that—I’ve done something constructive with it. You don’t put that on other people, you put that into what you do. That’s always the way I’ve written lyrics. My ex-partners are not friends with me, but I’m OK with that.

Release history

"Leave a Trace" was streamed on the band's official SoundCloud page.[3]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews.[4] Luke Winstanley of Clash wrote, "'Leave a Trace' is another highlight, outrageously infectious and immediate, all centred around a gentle but persistent bass pulse."[5] Sam Shepherd of musicOMH wrote, "Leave a Trace finds Mayberry certain of her feelings and finding closure, and delivering a sweet vocal that drills deep into the pleasure centres."[6] Abby Johnston of The Austin Chronicle called Mayberry's performance in the song "at the level of a modern-day Cyndi Lauper."[7]

Rolling Stone placed "Leave a Trace" at number 24 on its list of the 50 Best Songs of 2015.[8] Billboard ranked "Leave a Trace" at number fourteen on its year-end list: "On 'Leave a Trace', Iain Cook and Martin Doherty’s fine-tuned swirls of synthesizer are just begging for a killer hook, and Mayberry -- singing with more swagger than ever before -- hammers it home." [9]

Music video

A music video for the song was released on 17 August 2015.

Consequence of Sound said of the music video:[10]

In the atmospheric video for “Leave A Trace”, Lauren Mayberry takes center stage and proves yet again why she’s quickly risen the ranks among indie’s foremost frontwomen. Confident yet vulnerable, seductive yet fierce, Mayberry refuses to be pigeonholed into one singular personality. It’s all the more striking when considering she’s spent the last year fighting back against Internet trolls for sexist and misogynistic comments. Mayberry can be sexy, but she can also kick your ass.

Track listing

All tracks written by Chvrches. 

Vinyl edition[11]
No. Title Length
1. "Leave a Trace" (Radio edit) 3:34
2. "Leave a Trace" (Album version) 3:57
3. "Leave a Trace" (Instrumental) 3:57

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 64
Australia Hitseekers (ARIA)[12] 3
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[13] 37
Canada Rock (Billboard)[14] 27
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[15] 95
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[16] 120
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[17] 17

References

  1. ↑ Geslani, Michelle; Roffman, Michael (16 July 2015). "CHVRCHES premieres new single "Leave A Trace" - listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  2. ↑ Mayberry, Lauren (22 June 2015). "Keeping It Unreal: In the Studio with Chvrches" (Interview). Interview with Pitchfork. Glasgow. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Murray, Robin (16 July 2015). "Listen: CHVRCHES - 'Leave a Trace'". Clash. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  4. ↑ Ryan, Kyle (25 September 2015). "Chvrches is poised for big things on its excellent 2nd album". A.V. Club. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Winstanley, Luke (10 September 2015). "CHVRCHES - Every Open Eye". Clash Music. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  6. ↑ Shepherd, Sam (5 October 2015). "Chvrches - Every Open Eye". musicOMH. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  7. ↑ Johnston, Abby (6 November 2015). "Chvrches Every Open Eye (Glassnote/Virgin EMI)". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "50 Best Songs of 2015". Rolling Stone.
  9. ↑ "Billboard 25 Best Songs of 2015: Critics' Picks". Billboard.com.
  10. ↑ CoS Staff (17 August 2015). "CHVRCHES unveil video for "Leave a Trace" - watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  11. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Chvrches-Leave-A-Trace/release/7314768
  12. 1 2 "ARIA Report". Issue 1327. ARIA. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Chvrches – Leave A Trace" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Canada Rock : Dec 12, 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Chvrches – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Chvrches. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "CHART: CLUK Update 25.07.2015 (wk30)". zobbel.de. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "Chvrches – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Chvrches. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
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