Selfish Bodies – Hideous (2023)
Inspired by human experiences and life in totality, Canadian band Selfish Bodies is a female-fronted trio passionately creating music as a means of expressing, well, everything. In an interview with Canadian Beats, the band shared that “one of the biggest inspirations when writing is our feelings, mostly hurt feelings…we can’t afford a therapist, so into the songs they go…” – cathartic, no doubt, but it is the intense intimacy of their alternative rock meets pop sound that really captures raw human emotion. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Hideous’.
Following their well-received single ‘Bambi Legs’, ‘Hideous’ is the band’s first release in 2023 – and what a way to begin the year! Recorded with producers Brandon Unis and Robbie Townsend at Velveteen Music in Alberta, ‘Hideous’ can be described as dark, heavy and hard-hitting. A harmonic flow exists between Michelle Bessette’s piano, Garrett Jette’s guitar and Brandy Sharpe’s obscure vocals; however, for me, the most powerful element from a melodic perspective is Jette’s ending solo. The crescendo to dynamic guitar riffs from an austere tune sends you further down the proverbial rabbit hole until you find a kaleidoscopic swirl of sound.
Just as the melody can hold its own with the innovative arrangement, so does the lyrical content take us to another level. Selfish Bodies explains that ‘Hideous’ is “…meant to be a raw interpretation of our ability to relate to one another and was primarily inspired by the divide and interactions of people during the peak of the Covid pandemic.” Lead vocalist Brandy Sharpe further shared that ‘Hideous’ “is the most exposed I’ve ever felt with a song release thus far. While I also feel my voice holds a strong conviction, the contrast is exciting.”
Honest and raw but with a sophisticated, elegant and poetic tenderness, Selfish Bodies is a refreshing break in what can sometimes be a stagnating pop music scene. I plan to keep an eye on this rising star and I think you should too.
For more from Selfish Bodies, check out their Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
