LUCY DACUS
Shares new single & video ‘Brando’
Forthcoming album Home Video out June 25
Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz
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Praise for Lucy Dacus
“If Dacus’ past releases have delivered a few emotional knockout punches, [Home Video] is
full of them.” “[Dacus is] one of the best songwriters of her generation.” – Rolling Stone
“‘Hot & Heavy’ begins in a synthesized glow…But it doesn’t take long for ‘Hot & Heavy’ to kick into a gallop, coming alive with chiming guitars and gleaming pop-rock flourishes that recall ‘Full Moon Fever’-era Tom Petty.” – New York Times
“So much of what I love about Lucy’s songs is how much wisdom and clarity there is in them.” – NPR Music
“she punctuates [‘VBS’] with all the right musical touches…and the music in turn responds, exploding into a brief, intense onslaught of distortion.” – Pitchfork
“As the arrangement [of ‘Hot & Heavy’] swells into a lush sonic landscape, mirroring the personal growth and inner strength that she’s taking stock of, Dacus’ talent is undeniable.” – them.
“Though its melodies are energetic and spritely, on ‘Hot & Heavy’ it’s clear Dacus’s feelings about her hometown are complicated.” – NYLON
“’Hot & Heavy’ really portrays this confusing mix of regret, longing, and acceptance. When she sings the last line, ‘It’s bittersweet to see you again,’ and the weightless, swirling instrumentals take over the song, she’s embracing whatever comes next.” – Stereogum on ‘Hot & Heavy’
“when she pulls the trick of referencing Slayer and then cranking up the distortion for a few bars, it makes me want to close my eyes and lift my hands to the heavens.”
– Stereogum on ‘VBS’
“Finally available in its recorded form, perhaps the greatest testament to ‘Thumbs’ is that it still retains the same ability to stop you dead in your tracks.” – FADER
Later this month on June 25th, Lucy Dacus will release her new album, Home Video, via Matador / Rhythmethod. Today, she presents ‘Brando’, the album’s fourth track in a string of emotive singles – ‘VBS’, ‘Hot & Heavy’, and ‘Thumbs’. Continuing to showcase Dacus’ incredible storytelling and songwriting, ‘Brando’ weaves together Old Hollywood references with frank observations of a temperamental relationship: “You called me cerebral // I didn’t know what you meant // But now I do. Would it have killed you // to call me pretty instead? //I’m in a second story window // and you’re yelling at me “Stella!” // and I’m laughing cause you think you’re Brando but you’ll never come close.” Hushed casio drums give way to a swell of instrumentation – synthesizer, synth hi hats, a range of guitars, and percussion. Dacus’ melody is an instant earworm.
“‘Brando’ refers to a very dramatic friend I had in high school whose whole personality was the media he consumed,” says Dacus. “He showed me a lot of amazing movies and music, but I think he was more interested in using me as a scrapbook of his own tastes than actually getting to know me. He claimed to know me better than anyone else but I started to feel like all he wanted from me was to be a scene partner in the movie of his life.”
Additionally, today kicks off a ‘Brando’ video contest. Participants can send in a video of themselves dancing (or skateboarding, ice skating, roller blading, etc.) to the track for a chance to be in the official music video. All skill levels are welcome and more details can be found at www.lucydac.us. Send your submissions to lucydacusbrando@gmail.com via the file transfer service of your choice (e.g. WeTransfer, Dropbox) by June 18. Landscape videos preferred, but you do you.
Home Video is Dacus’ “most personal album to date, recounting her coming of age, in Richmond, Virginia. She sings about lost friendships, queer love affairs, curfews, and other adolescent pursuits” (New Yorker). It displays her ability to use the personal as portal into the universal as the songs capture that specific moment in time growing up where emotions and relationships start becoming more complex — the joys, the excitement, the confusion, and even the heartbreak of going through the process of discovering who you are and where people fit in your life and where you fit in theirs. Dacus’ voice, both audible and on the page, has a healer’s power to soothe and ground and reckon.
Pre-order / pre-save Lucy Dacus – Home Video: http://lucydacus.ffm.to/homevideo
Lucy Dacus – ‘Brando’ (Official Lyric Video)
Stream / Download: https://lucydacus.
