Enigmatic is one of those words rock journalists like to throw out a lot. In its proper context, it’s a word that demands careful contemplation. It’s reserved for those rare sonic experiences that defy the mundane. And yet when I read a phrase like “enigmatic guitar tones,” I feeling more confusion than anything else. How can a tone be mysterious or difficult to understand? It’s one of those words you need to tread carefully when using, because it describes such a rare, precious thing. Something that’s mysterious, puzzling, and deeply compelling. Those kinds of things don’t come around nearly as often as rock journalists opine.

Julianna Money embodies the honorific of enigmatic. Their music is impossible to pigeonhole, always on the move, and able to tell truths through a slanted perspective. We’re just a few days from the autumn equinox and what better way to celebrate than with a premiere of the artist’s latest single and video.

“Tasty” has an ethereal, otherworldly quality driven by a sparse acoustic guitar and steady percussion. Money’s voice cascades in curlicues, never resting, and always lustful. It defies easy categorization, residing somewhere in the interplay of falsetto whispers and enticing murmurs. Their lyrics evoke an almost prehistoric ritual. “I’m going to eat you alive” they purr throughout hypnotic choruses. The mesmerizing composition evokes the sound of an ancient feminine ritual. Money reclaims notions of prehistory from the dominion of patriarchy, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a world where the feminine weighs supreme.

“‘Tasty’ is probably my favorite track on this album,” Money says. “Definitely one of my favorite tracks I’ve ever done. I was trying to express the agony of being so in love that you feel disempowered, so I kind of flipped that power dynamic by making my lover the victim.”

Directed by Caleb Money, the video features the artist flanked by sirens bedecked in Midsommar florals and equinox mystique. Together they prepare their body for a ritual involving a feast in the sparkling summer sun. Even the hint of human sacrifice can’t overshadow the seductive glow of Money’s performance. As sirens consume handfuls of cake, they oversee the bacchanal with a sly Cheshire cat grin. As the mood shifts and the temperature drops, the song’s tempo slows to a hypnotic bonfire crawl. Perhaps the allure of becoming sustenance for the ravenous isn’t such a terrible fate after all.

Watch/listen above.

“Tasty” is the final single from Money’s forthcoming LP, Eclipse, which is slated for release in the spring of 2024.

More Info
Web: juliannamoney.com
Bandcamp: juliannamoney.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @juliannamoneymusic
Instagram: @julianna.money
SoundCloud: @juliannamoney