Posts Tagged ‘Varsity’

VARSITY – ” Runaway “

Posted: April 9, 2020 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
Tags: , , , ,
0

image

Chicago indie-pop collective Varsity recently signed with Run for Cover Records in 2018, and released a doubling of singles which showcased their ability to bring forth unique conversations in song surrounding personal relationships with a wide-eyed dreamy sparkle. This May, they will release their latest full-length effort Fine Forever, and once again, the moment marks another creative transition for the quintet.

On the album’s lead single and opener “Runaway”, they step away from the clouds and move onto the dance floor with streaks of Fleetwood flickers and a groove-laden bassline. Here, vocalist and keyboardist Stef Smith sings through the flashbulb lights without pause, being drawn only to where the heart leads. “Runaway / I don’t even know your name / You’re not going anywhere tonight / Unless you’re gonna run away.” It’s hard to imagine anyone doing so when Varsity’s love energy naturally pulls you in…

Band Members
stef, Dylan, pat, jake, paul,

Varsity’s Fine Forever will be released May 29th on Run for Cover Records.

VARSITY – ” Must Be Nice “

Posted: March 4, 2018 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
Tags: , , , ,
0

Image may contain: 5 people, indoor

“Must Be Nice,” the first single from Chicago band Varsity’s forthcoming album Parallel Person, has a title that comprises a double meaning. The title phrase is habitually “bandied around sarcastically,” says singer and keyboardist Stephanie Smith. But she says it can also be an ultimatum, as in: “I must be nice in order to be liked/noticed/not be considered a b****.”

The song itself is a catchy slice of indie-pop, the punchiness of which is undercut by Smith’s self-conscious lyrics: “I know I can’t cry in front of them / But if I could,” she trails off anxiously. Smith says the song was conceived of more as “a mood and the idea of repetition rather than a narrative or a complicated structure.” Propulsive bass and drums give the song an urgent feel, while intertwined keyboard and guitar riffs lend a surfy, eerie charm.

The video for “Must Be Nice,” by animator Shane Beam, reflects the song’s mood and cyclical nature. Beam “totally honed in on the repetition, psychedelic imagery and playful tone of this tune,” Smith says. “The resulting video highlighted themes and images that we hadn’t noticed before,” she says, “plus it made us laugh, which is always good in this economy!”

VARSITY – ” Must be Nice “

Posted: February 8, 2018 in CLASSIC ALBUMS, MUSIC
Tags: , , , ,
0

“Must Be Nice,” the first single from Chicago band Varsity’s forthcoming album Parallel Person, has a title that comprises a double meaning. The title phrase is habitually “bandied around sarcastically,” says singer and keyboardist Stephanie Smith. But she says it can also be an ultimatum, as in: “I must be nice in order to be liked/noticed/not be considered a b****.”

The song itself is a catchy slice of indie-pop, the punchiness of which is undercut by Smith’s self-conscious lyrics: “I know I can’t cry in front of them / But if I could,” she trails off anxiously. Smith says the song was conceived of more as “a mood and the idea of repetition rather than a narrative or a complicated structure.” Propulsive bass and drums give the song an urgent feel, while intertwined keyboard and guitar riffs lend a surfy, eerie charm.

The video for “Must Be Nice,” by animator Shane Beam, reflects the song’s mood and cyclical nature. Beam “totally honed in on the repetition, psychedelic imagery and playful tone of this tune,” Smith says. “The resulting video highlighted themes and images that we hadn’t noticed before,” she says, “plus it made us laugh, which is always good in this economy!”

From our new record Parallel Person out 4/27 on Babe City Records.