The new video from icon Mallrat is for a track that prowls and circles like a caged animal. ‘Teeth’ is off her magnificent debut ‘Butterfly Blue’ (out through Dew Process) released earlier this year (see my review here). Displaying a fuzzier harder edge then previous releases, this is a driving anthemic delight that catches reflections off something darker like The Jesus and Mary Chain with its dangerous edge and fuzzy bite.
The reflective lyrics reveal a deeply personal tale of personal insecurity:
It’s in my hair, in my sleep
In my hands, in my teeth
It’s in my chair, it looks like me
And when it stands, I take my seat
Shaw says of the track:
When I was writing my album I kept thinking about monster trucks. I wanted to harness that distortion and roughness to balance out all the delicate and ethereal moments. This video is a very literal depiction of that. The references are eclectic – Lady Godiva, siren mythology, Charlie’s Angels and the Paris Hilton Carl’s Jr commercial. We filmed Teeth at the beginning of the year, at home in Queensland, with some very talented friends (James Robinson and Amy Dell)
The video for ‘Teeth’ was directed by Mallrat (aka Melbourne-based singer/writer/producer Grace Shaw) and co-directed by James Robinson (Camp Cope, Wafia, Valentino, Adidas Originals).
The video contrast vulnerability in the lyrics with cinematic close ups that invites you in and holds you close: a perspective of an observer, a voyeur, sometimes uncomfortable, with a sense of danger and a hint of violence that matches the driving music. It’s quite a confronting and brave performance and utterly mesmerising:
‘Butterfly Blue’ is out now and available download and stream here.
You can catch Mallrat live across Australia – details below. Highly recommended – she is a blast live.
17 Nov – Magnums, Airlie Beach, QLD (18+)
18 Nov – Gilligan’s, Cairns, QLD (18+)
19 Nov – JCU Uni Bar, Townsville, QLD (18+)
26 Nov – Spilt Milk, Canberra, ACT
3 Dec – Spilt Milk, Ballrat, VIC
4 Dec – Spilt Milk, Gold Coast, QLD
31 Dec – Hobart UniBar, Sandy Bay, TAS (18+)
30 Jan – Laneway Festival, Auckland
4 Feb – Laneway Festival, Brisbane
5 Feb – Laneway Festival, Sydney
10 Feb – Laneway Festival, Adelaide
11 Feb – Laneway Festival, Melbourne
12 Feb – Laneway Festival, Fremantle
Tickets and more information at lilmallrat.com
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