FOAMBOY SHARES THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR “BETTER”
DEBUT LP MY SOBER DAYDREAM DUE OCTOBER 1
Portland duo, Foamboy, are announcing their debut LP and sharing the lead single/video, “Better.” The dance-filled video was choreographed & directed by Monika Felice Smith, who has collaborated with artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Finneas, and Bella Poarch. My Sober Daydream will be self-released on October 1st.
Katy & Wil gave some words on the new single/video:
“‘Better’ is a song about seasonal depression mingling with the dread of a life under capitalism. I wrote this song when I was working one of the most demanding jobs of my life. I was running up against some pretty dark thoughts and I was watching my entire routine and sense of self crumble. But I had to wonder- maybe it’s just because the sun sets at 4:30pm? Although that job was particularly harsh, it also brought up the fear that no matter what job or path I choose, I will be unhappy with it somehow. The perfect complement to any existential crisis is a glittery disco beat, so when Wil sent me this idea, I thought “Why not? Let’s mix this super upbeat music with my depression. Can you imagine if this song had happy lyrics? I don’t think it would slap as hard.” ~Katy
“The music video for “Better” was a collaboration between us and LA based choreographer and director Monika Felice Smith. Monika has worked with some big names like Finneas, Olivia Rodrigo, and more, so we were incredibly excited to collaborate with her on this. We worked with her right from the beginning on everything from the choreography style, to the wardrobe, location, and editing style. The late 60’s vintage vibe of the clothing and setting were chosen to pair well with the saturated and warm tones of the song. This album was very much driven by emotion and aesthetic, so it was also important for us to match that in the video, and have the choreography be a bit more abstract and not super literal. While our main theme in the song is dealing with depression, the video reflects that with our main dancer struggling to find a way to “pick herself up.” As she struggles to find the strength within herself, we see her running into other dancers, relating to them, empathizing with them, and creating a support system. Our now four dancers latch and pull on one another, finding ways to pick each other up, find solace in their shared struggle, and create the space to freely express their frustrations, joys, and fears. With the ending, I wanted to make sure we portrayed a change in our main character, but that her struggle was not over. Mental health is an extremely nuanced and complex part of life, and for many people there is no one cure-all. So this video is more about finding those moments that can help you push forward in life, and fostering a positive relationship with your mental health, rather than alienating yourself from it.” ~Wil
Artist Bio
Foamboy are a Portland-based duo comprised of producer Wil Bakula and vocalist Katy Ohsiek. They met in Salem, OR and worked together for a number of years in the experimental musical collective Chromatic Colors. In this group, Wil and Katy collaborated with a wide variety of instrumentalists, released 2 full-length albums, and graced the stages of many outdoor festivals, bars, and basements. In the events of 2020, Wil and Katy took this time to take on a new project, and Foamboy came to be.
Foamboy’s debut album, My Sober Daydream, is a neat package of jazz-inspired danceable pop with a hyper-personal lyrical edge. Listeners will enjoy influences of disco and funk styles while being reminded of artists like The Internet, Men I Trust, and Thundercat. The lyrics wrangle with topics of identity, relationships, gender dynamics, and late-stage capitalism; the delivery of these lyrics akin to a conversation over the phone with your best friend. Katy’s melodies twist and float over Wil’s rich, synth-centric soundscapes.
Artist Links
Cover Artwork Credit: Samy Benarroch | Background Photo Credit: Nathan Schmidlin
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: MAYBE MAY – “BETTER”
