There’s that old adage—we all know it—of good things requiring patience and time. I’d also argue they require sacrifice, some relinquishing of the self. For all their virtues and rewards, good things often extract their own toll, only materializing after enduring heartbreak, failure, betrayal, regret—in short, pain. Every awakening, every revolution demands such a reckoning. What good is joy, after all—true, cleansing, unmitigated joy—if not paired with the pain that preceded it?
Although Posture Clinic exist very much as an egalitarian collective with no one front person or bandleader, they remain the sum of their individual stories. For guitarist and vocalist Aja Arnold (known more widely as the founder of the independent cultural and political magazine Mainline), the journey began primarily as a means of healing and processing a considerable amount of emotional and physical trauma.
“For me, Posture Clinic began in 2022,” she explains. “I was heartbroken, sober, and needing to cope with some very difficult things, so I was playing my guitar more than usual. I was listening to a lot of Cat Power at that time, which unlocked this new level of songwriting for me. Floodgates burst open, and I was writing songs like I had never before. I even wrote an EP that summer which I ended up throwing out and never finishing.”
As songs continued to pour out one after another, a desire to form a new band began to take hold. But rather than pressing the issue by actively seeking out bandmates, Arnold decided to let the universe take the reins. Along the way, she encountered more hurt and despair (including surviving a brain injury from a life-altering car accident), but at every turn she allowed herself to remain open, searching for her musical partners.
Today, we’re excited to bring you the debut single from Posture Clinic, a raw, aching reward for that harrowing trek. Consisting of Arnold, Melissa Chilson (drums, vocals), Danny Dopte (bass, vocals), and Lindsay Thomaston (vocals, drums, synth), the four-piece conjure a lustrous, expansive sound that is by turns dreamy and visceral. There are moments, especially during the verses, when the music’s spaced-out sway takes hold and an overriding sense of calmness and reflection sets in. But then the distortion erupts and the track lurches in the opposite direction. It’s a dynamic shift countless artists have employed, but what makes “Just In” so compelling is how freely those dual states intertwine and play off one another—not to mention the emotional tumult roiling within Chilson’s vocals. Overall, it’s a powerful introduction, and further proof that patience and sacrifice tend to win out in the end.
“I believe all good things are completely unforced,” Arnold says. “I didn’t go searching for my future bandmates, but I kept my ears and eyes open. I had to experience a few more things in life, I think, to really create the space for me and to be ready for them… A million little things in the universe lined up to bring us together and it’s been a beautiful reminder that divine timing is beautiful and good things come to those who wait.”
Listen to “Just In” below.
Posture Clinic will perform on Thur., July 10 at the Drunken Unicorn alongside Safety Switch and Maggie FM. Doors open at 8 p.m. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Bandcamp: postureclinic.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @postureclinicmusic