LAWEEKLY Article – LISTEN to Continent-spanning rock supergroup Circle The Earth shares new single ‘Numb’
Globe-spanning rock group Circle The Earth has shared their latest single, ‘Numb,’ as they continue with a busy summer touring schedule.
Hailing from all four corners of the earth, Circle The Earth is based in Los Angeles – but traces their roots to far-flung locations. Bassist Michael McBay founded the quintet, and it features Japanese guitarist Kazuki Tokaji, Brazilian drummer Sandro Feliciano, Taiwanese keyboardist Sandy Chao Wang, and vocal dynamo/frontwoman Aviva Scott (who is also their newest member).
While their border-breaking identity helped them gain global attention when they released songs in 2021, Circle The Earth’s musical stylings – all swagger, jazz tinges, and pop-minded rock – cemented their vast fanbase.
According to frontwoman Aviva, who formally joined the band in 2024 at the suggestion of the legendary artist Diane Warren, “We’re a very outside-of-the-box, colorful, and atypical rock band. We aren’t what you expect when considering rock ‘n’ roll.”
This unexpectedness is borne out in all the songs the band has released. Early songs like ‘Dead,’ ‘Sweetest Pain,’ and ‘New Religion’ received plenty of love thanks to their raw energy and anthemic quality (a rare thing in modern-day rock). At the same time, their debut EP, Hey Goodbye, showcased insightful lyrics and easily identifiable chemistry among the bandmates.
Fans who have witnessed them in person will have noticed the abovementioned chemistry. Circle The Earth is, at its heart, a rollickingly great live band – equally comfortable on a bill alongside Oingo Boingo as they are alongside Drake Bell or Smokey Robinson.
Circle The Earth has unveiled what they’ve been cooking up in the studio recently in their newest single, ‘Numb.’
‘Numb’ marks the first song with Aviva officially holding the title of Lead Singer, so it would always be a highly-anticipated release.
The song itself is an eye-opening look at what it means to wrestle with addiction. Aviva’s voice is characterized by its range – the artist goes from raspy and passionate to delicate and earnest without pausing for rest. This versatility means she can fit a lot of emotion into the track’s economical three minutes.
Beyond being pleasing to listen to, the song is also whip-smart. ‘Numb’ explores the central contradiction behind addictive behavior – addiction can lessen some pain in the short term but heightens everything else in the long term. This contradiction is concise in the song’s chant-able chorus: “When I’m numb, I feel everything.”
Circle The Earth said about the track itself. The new lead singer said, “Numb is about someone battling their emotions and overcoming obstacles in an unhealthy relationship. Even though they want to act like they’re numb, they still feel everything and can’t cover it up. You can try to mask your emotions, but they’re still ultimately there.”
‘Numb’ is available to stream now. A music video directed by Henry Lipatov is also available on YouTube.
Source: LAWeekly
Photo credit: Chris Swainston
