Higher (The Naked and Famous song)

After touring in support of their second studio album, In Rolling Waves (2013), the band began a sabbatical in mid-2014 from touring. Their third studio album, Simple Forms, was recorded at Powers' home studio in Echo Park, Los Angeles, amidst the end of an eight-year romantic relationship between lead vocalists Alisa Xayalith and Thom Powers. Xayalith stated, "It's been two years since we came off the road and a lot of life has happened in and all around us. We've been broken here and picked ourselves up again—so maybe this chorus talk a little to that experience...love, grief, time passing and returning to a place where we are lucky to have each other."^[2]

According to keyboardist Aaron Short, "Higher" was planned for inclusion on In Rolling Waves, and was originally "a lot more of a down-tempo, minimal electronic form", with Powers on vocals. The song was ultimately included on Simple Forms.^[5]

In early July 2016, the group signed with Kobalt Label Services in North America for the release of the single, as well as their third studio album.^[4]

Consequence of Sound described the track as dealing with both passion and pain in great quantities, with "razor synths buzzsaw and grind before being uplifted by Xayalith's skyscraper vocals".^[2] The New Zealand Herald stated that "The Auckland five-piece are known for making synth-drenched festival singalongs, and Higher's shimmering hooks and shouted chorus is no different."^[3]

The song was used in a commercial for Comcast Xfinity. ^{[citation needed]}

• Digital download

1. "Higher"

• Digital download – FKYA Remix

1. "Higher" (FKYA Remix) – 3:50

• Digital download – RAC Remix

1. "Higher" (RAC Remix) – 4:30

• Digital download – Stripped

1. "Higher" (Stripped) – 4:02

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Simple Forms.^[6]

• The Naked and Famous – production
• Thomas Powers – production
• Sombear – additional production
• Carlos de la Garza – live instrumentation engineering
• Ken Andrews – mixing
• Joe LaPorta – mastering