NME: Dhani Harrison and Radiohead Producer Nigel Godrich Unveil New Band Dragonflies with Hypnotic Single ‘Slower

Dhani Harrison and Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich have formed a new collaborative band named Dragonflies, releasing their debut hypnotic single ‘Slower’ ahead of a self-titled album scheduled for September 18 via Dark Horse Records/BMG. The project shifts Harrison’s musical focus toward guitar and vocals while pairing Godrich’s real-time studio production with trip-hop and earthbound space rock textures.

The Genesis of Dragonflies and the ‘Slower’ Single

The single ‘Slower’ acts as the opening track for the upcoming record, blending tape loops, layered percussion, and Harrison’s vocals into a hazy, trip-hop-influenced soundscape. According to materials released with the announcement, the track arrives alongside a hand-drawn, psychedelic video directed by Bristol animator RUFFMERCY. RUFFMERCY’s previous portfolio includes visual work for artists like Nirvana, Earl Sweatshirt, The Chemical Brothers, Nas, and Run The Jewels.

The creative partnership between Harrison and Godrich began after Harrison reached out to the producer during the pandemic for advice regarding what eventually became his 2023 solo album ‘Innerstanding’. Following that initial contact, Godrich invited Harrison to his studio in Brixton. There, the two musicians began constructing new material rapidly from tape loops without maintaining a fixed plan.

“It’s like one person throwing something in the air and the other person catching it,” Godrich said of their working dynamic.

Harrison described the experience of working alongside the producer by noting, “He’s a machine. He has strong opinions about what he wants to hear, and for me it’s very humbling. That’s why it’s such a new experience.” This shift meant Harrison stepped back from the detailed computer-based production methods of his previous solo work to focus strictly on singing and playing guitar, while Godrich shaped the compositions in real time.

Sonic Influences and Industry Backgrounds

The collaborative project draws inspiration from specific sonic blueprints, with the pair citing Portishead singer Beth Gibbons, Japan frontman David Sylvian, and late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto as core influences. They categorize the resulting aesthetic as a form of “earthbound space rock.”

The September 18 release date for the self-titled album links the project back to Dark Horse Records, the label originally founded in 1974 by Harrison’s father, Beatles legend George Harrison. For Godrich, the new band runs parallel to an extensive production career. He is widely recognized for producing every studio album for Radiohead since 1997’s ‘OK Computer’, as well as collaborating with Thom Yorke on solo releases and work with The Smile. His production credits span major commercial releases including Beck’s ‘Sea Change’ and ‘Information’, Paul McCartney’s ‘Chaos And Creation In The Backyard’, and Arcade Fire’s ‘We Exist’.

Beyond his production credits, Godrich has a history of active band participation. He formed the electronic group Ultraísta with singer Laura Bettinson and drummer Joey Waronker, releasing albums in 2012 and 2020. He is also a founding member of the supergroup Atoms For Peace alongside Yorke, Waronker, Flea, and Mauro Refosco, which released its debut album ‘Amok’ in 2013.

Discussing the distinct mindset required for his own musical output compared to production, Godrich told NME around the release of Ultraísta’s second album, “When you’re producing, you’re trying to help somebody else realise their vision. When you’re making your own record, you’re responsible for every decision.”

Harrison, the only child of George and Olivia Harrison, built an extensive career across alternative rock and scoring. He initially emerged as a member of the alternative rock band thenewno2 before forming the supergroup Fistful Of Mercy with Ben Harper and Joseph Arthur. He released his solo debut ‘In///Parallel’ in 2017, followed by ‘Innerstanding’ in 2023, alongside composing score work for television and film projects such as ‘Beautiful Creatures’, ‘Good Girls Revolt’, and ‘Dogs’. Last year, he executive-produced the first official music video for his father’s song ‘Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)’, directed by ‘Stranger Things’ actor Finn Wolfhard.

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