We’ve all felt some form of it. Maybe it’s a crushing pressure in the chest or a paralyzing sadness. Perhaps it’s the stabbing pain of worthlessness twisting like a dull knife in the heart. A suffocating emptiness that never relents or a roaring chorus of negative voices. Whatever shape or sensation it takes, however, the result is the same: a feeling of deep dread and an inescapable desire to curl into a ball and hide from the world.

Listening to “Don’t Play Dead,” the new single from indie veterans Pacifico, depression isn’t the first thing to come to mind. On the surface, it’s a punchy and driving pop-rock anthem. Musically, the track almost skips along, bouncing from groove to exuberant groove. Indeed, the sharp rhythms and heart-tugging melody nearly beg the listener to get up and move about, which, according to bandleader Matthew Schwartz, is largely the point.

“‘Don’t Play Dead’ was written as a letter of encouragement to my wife,” Schwartz says. “Sometimes she suffers from near-crippling depression, which I suffer from sometimes, too. She retreats to the couch and ‘plays dead.’ In this song, I’m letting her know that she isn’t alone, that I’m always by her side, and that she has got this! So many people deal with anxiety and sometimes it can become so big that even the most simple tasks seem difficult. So, ‘Don’t Play Dead’ is also for anyone who becomes stuck or can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want them to know that this won’t last forever, and as I sing in the song, ‘none of this matters anyway.”

As the lead single from Pacifico’s fourth full-length, Self Care, “Don’t Play Dead” makes for an energetic (not to mention empathetic) introduction. Featuring support from bassist Peter Randall (Adele, Seal, the Kooks) and Shane Tutmarc of Dolour, the upcoming record is about surviving tough times, fighting for your goals, and coming out the other side a stronger, more loving human. If you’ve ever battled depression, you’ll know all those things can seem like an impossible dream, making positive human connections so crucial. On “Don’t Play Dead,” Schwartz and company lead with their hearts, delivering nurturing support with an impressive array of unassailable hooks.

Self Care is out Feb. 10, 2023.

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