Perth-based artist Skyuka‘s last single was a zesty light-hearted look at obsession (‘Michael Cera’). Now, in ‘Houseplants’, Vanessa Raspa (the artist behind the name) is taking a much darker look at life in an eviscerating take down of a lover – and the anger and disappointment is reflected by the spiky grungy delivery.
Distorted synths and the scrape of a pick over strings introduce the song while strangulated guitars howl at the edges. The ambulant bass that slides underneath the surface provides the platform for Skyuka’s excoriating lyrics. Skyuka’s performance is still as fresh as ever, but this time with a slightly sneering grungy demeanor.
Speaking of the track and its development, Skyuka says:
‘Houseplants’ is definitely the first angry song I’ve released, and it feels great. It’s about having complete, utter disappointment in someone and a lack of communication making you question everything to the point that you drive yourself crazy, creating your own narratives that may not even exist.
‘Houseplants’ originally started with just a bass line that I wrote and from there came the melody quite easily. I was having a terrible night mentally, so the salty lyrics just poured out of me. I then programmed some synth and recorded my vocals from home. My brother (Token Friend) put down live bass and guitar; and did a lot of layering in parts to really build the tension. We both then went to Debaser Studios with Jasper Emmitt Miller who put down live drums. We were very grateful to then have Andy Lawson steer
the track in the right direction with his production and mixing skills.
The result is an exciting, angry track filled with an arch cynicism and a sense of world weariness, with an instrumentation that has a barbed-wire cut:
‘Houseplants’ is out now and available to stream in all the usual places.
Feature Photograph: Sarah Haleem
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