Aberdeen band create new Dons-inspired single ahead of Spartans cup clash

Aberdeen fans will get to hear a new single when the team runs out at Pittodrie for their Premier Sports Cup clash this weekend against Spartans from an up-and-coming local band.

Hitlist have created a brand new track specifically for the Dons, with the diehard fans excited to hear it live when Jimmy Thelin's men look to secure a return to Hampden on Saturday evening.

After being approached by the club about the idea of creating a song for the Reds, the lads were thrilled by the prospect, and soon 'Granite Skylines' will be blaring over the speakers.

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Speaking to Aberdeen's club website, the Hitlist lads revealed how their dream of having their music played at Pittodrie came to fruition.

"The song came about after we were invited by Supporter Experience Manager Stephen McCormick to create something new for the Dons following recommendations from supporters that we would be the right fit for the job.

"We have all been Aberdeen fans our entire lives and wouldn’t have it any other way. We grew up going to games and experiencing the tremendous atmosphere that Pittodrie can offer.

"We’ve made some of our best memories at Aberdeen games, both home and away, and we are honoured and very excited to be part of the matchday experience moving forward!"

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The process of making the single all took place in the home city of the Dons, and band gave an insight into the process behind creating a new anthem for their favourite team.

They said: "All production, mixing, and mastering took place in Aberdeen. The song was written entirely by the band and recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced by Joel Morrison (Bassist). The drums were recorded at York Street Studio in Aberdeen by Michael Macdonald.

"We started writing immediately, with Finlay (Guitarist) coming up with a guitar riff that we felt would bring the right intensity to suit the mood of a walkout. Callum (Vocals and Guitarist) then began writing the lyrics, citing ‘Granite Skylines’ as the chorus.

"Joel laid down his driving bass part, which adds significant depth to the song and works seamlessly alongside the guitar. Ollie (Drummer) brought it to life with the drum kit, as he always does; he’s a huge part of our sound, really helping to carry the song’s intensity."

Lead singer Calum was the mastermind behind the lyrics, and while many musicians know the familiar feeling of writer's block, there were no challenges facing the young vocalist when it came to singing about his team and his city.

He even managed to fit in a subtle reference to the former Real Madrid manager who was on the losing side on that famous night in Gothenburg when Aberdeen won the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup.

Calum added: "I didn’t find it hard to write about Aberdeen, I’ve never know anything else. I thought ‘Granite Skylines’ would be a fitting title as it aptly describes the image of Aberdeen. After jotting down the title, I got to work on forming the rest of the lyrics.

"My favourite lyric is ‘In this city of spirit and pride, take my soul,’ which is a play on the Alfredo Di Stefano quote, ‘Aberdeen have what money can’t buy; a soul, a team spirit built in a family tradition.'"

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Ollie took up two roles for the single, the drums and the artwork, as he was tasked with creating the artwork for Granite Skylines, and he feels he has managed to create a tribute many fellow Aberdonians might appreciate.

He said: "I created the artwork with the intention of showcasing Aberdeen as a bright city, with the morning sun reflecting off the granite skyline. The colours I chose are a nod to our football team’s colours and rich history.

"To properly connect with the people we made the song for, I designed the typeface to resemble the street signs that are scattered throughout the city centre—a unique tribute to the Aberdonian listeners who were in our minds when we recorded the song."

For those who can't wait until this weekend to hear the new track, you can download it on Spotify here, and for those keen to hear it live can grab tickets for their headline show at Cafe Drummonds on Saturday, October 12, here.