Are we simply a collection of things? Or is there an essence to identity deeper than the items and ephemera we collect as we pass through this world? While not broaching such quandaries directly, the new video from Karaoke teases the questions of how many versions of ourselves we must shed before we can understand what is underneath and how we can come to peace with what’s leftover.
The visual montage of “How to Make You Boil” features lead guitarist Tymb Gratz, whose extended performance as a disrobing chameleon on a quirky artpop stage was created and produced by vocalist Grace Bellury. Whether the final frame indicates zen or exhaustion is impossible to tell, but the animated tone of the video meshes perfectly with the bright guitar stabs that propel the track.
Although it’s a song from the band’s upcoming LP Blood, Piss, Religion, Pain, Karaoke fans will recognize “How to Make You Boil” as the title of their 2018 debut EP. The connection isn’t only in namesake but also in theme, with Bellury delivering the same heart-wrenching, brain-frazzling observations as she did on their first record—specifically on relationships with ourselves and others. The song is a combination of lush Cocteau Twins chords and sparse, skeletal rhythms. These well-orchestrated contradictions mirror the unsettling dichotomies humans must live with and grow through if there’s any hope of getting out of bed in the morning. As a result, Karaoke tap into one of the greatest powers of music: a lens to reflect our own struggles.
Watch/listen above.
Blood, Piss, Religion, Pain is out Nov. 22. A limited run of cassettes will be available via Pink House Tapes.
More Info
Bandcamp: karaokeatl.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @karaokeisaband