FRENCHY AND THE PUNK – “LIKE IN A DREAM”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE
Hailing from NYC (via Paris), alternative rock duoΒ Frenchy and the Punk are back with their elegant downbeat single “Like In A Dream”, which we have the pleasure of premiering today. Well, we can affirm that this music certainly lives up to that name. Here we have a Siouxsie-like vocals set to a slightly motorik post-punk backdrop laced with spaghetti Western finger-style guitar work.
Steeped in a melancholic grace, Frenchy and the Punk weave light into their darkness, both visually and aurally. Their music and videos echo this sentiment.Β A tribute to their lasting influences, “Like In A Dream” is a potent goth-alternative concoction, a boozy blend of classic post-punk infused with daring, catchy guitar work that pushes the boundaries of the genre.
Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricistΒ Samantha StephensonΒ and guitarist-composerΒ Scott Helland, co-founder ofΒ Deep WoundΒ (withΒ Dinosaur Jr.Β iconsΒ J MascisΒ andΒ Lou Barlow) andΒ Outpatients. Formed in 2005, they were named one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, conjuring up a vivid blend of post-punk, dark folk, new wave, goth and punk cabaret. Helland is also known for his exceptional solo music projectΒ Guitarmy of One.
β”Like In A Dream” was one of the songs we came up with in Paris. I often write lyrics in a stream of consciousness way as if the lyrics were attached to the guitar riff that Scott is playing. It can be that old, βwhich comes first?β, question. Do the riffs present themselves because the lyrics exist or are the lyrics born out of the guitar riffs. Or are Scott and my subconsciousness so connected that they both exist and emerge together? This song is about perspective, the cycle of life, and the ever beautiful embrace of love,β says Samantha Stephenson.
Scott Helland adds, βOn “Like in a Dream”, in the majority of the song, I play heavily reverbed single note guitar lines. It was a real treat to record, in what I like to call βthe Gilmour type of feelβ. I wanted those notes to ring and just be felt in an emotive way and to keep within that dreamy floaty-ness that Samantha conjures vocally and lyrically. The single note lines differ from the wall of acoustic and semi electric tones and chords that usually make up our songs, though that wall of sound does come in as the lead up to the end of this track.β
The duo earlier released the albumβs lead trackΒ “Hypnotized” while announcing their eighth albumΒ “Midnight Garden”, arriving one year since unleashing their critically-acclaimedΒ Zen GhostΒ album.
About the video, Stephenson explains, βWe filmed the majority of the footage for “Like In A Dream” at Art OMI and sculpture park in Ghent, NY, mostly utilizing the piece by LevenBetts called “Zoid”. The minimalist nature of the design and how it captures light with its repetitive geometric shapes seemed like a perfect structure to play within. The stark architecture placed in an expansive landscape mirrors and complements the minimalist and dreamy feel of the song. Another portion of the dance footage was filmed during the recent eclipse in April. It felt like an interesting time to capture movement. In a moment of time when so many came together to witness a beautiful natural phenomenon, it felt like an escape from the mundane which also felt in harmony with the song.β
On Midnight Garden, Stephenson hits her stride – lyrically, vocally and with the synth sounds peppering the album. Helland shows his knack for infectious, and often euphoric, guitar melodies, propelling these tracks and perfectly complementing Frenchy’s vocals.
This collection bursts with dance grooves, guitar-driven upbeat melodies and soaring vocals. Written in France and the USA, this post-punk, new wave and dark alternative-drenched cauldron of songs address themes ranging from the gothic reimagining of the garden of eden, rising from the ashes and starting over, to socio-political commentary,
Over the years, the duo has forged their own distinct path, touring across the US and Europe with their artful two-person powerhouse of sound.Β To date, they’ve performed withΒ Dead Can Dance’s Peter UlrichΒ andΒ Dresden Dolls’ Brian Viglione,Β Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Aurelio VoltaireΒ andΒ Faun.
The new single will be available everywhere online. The Midnight GardenΒ album, which is now available for pre-order,Β will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally on June 28.Β The band has just kicked off their UK tour, alongside Miranda Sex Garden. American tour dates follow in June. Tour tickets can be foundΒ online.
CREDITS
Samantha Stephenson – Vocals, Percussion, Keyboard
Scott Helland – Guitar, Bass, Drums and Drum Programming
Recorded at Split Rock Studios (New Paltz, NY)
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi
Mastered by Martin Bowes at The Cage (Coventry UK)
Written, performed and produced by Frenchy and the Punk
Single artwork by Samantha Stephenson
Artist photos by Nicola Bee
Publicity byΒ Shameless Promotion PR
Also enjoy videos for “Hypnotized” and “Gear Geist” from their latest βZen Ghostβ album:
Frenchy And The Punk
[Single]
(EA Recordings)
Release Date: May 28, 2024
TOUR DATES
JUN 1 Β Wareham UK – Aliceβs Wicked Tea Party
JUN 7 Β Morecambe, UK – A Splendid Day Out Festival
JUN 8 Β Newcastle, UK – Little Buildings
JUN 9 Β Edinburgh, UK – Banshee Labyrinth
JUN 14 Β Leicester, UK – Firebug
JUN 15 Β London, UK – Dublin Castle
JUN 17 Β Oxford, UK – Botley Taproom
JUN 22 Β Salem, MA – Darq Salem
JUL 11 Β Pomeroy, OH – Starwood Festival
JUL 13 Β Pittsburgh, PA – TBA
JUL 14 Β Columbus, OH – Dirty Dungarees Alt Music Space
JUL 17 Β Cincinnati, OH – The Comet
JUL 18 Β Detroit, MI – Corktown Tavern
JUL 19 Β Akron, OH – Buzzbin
JUL 20 Β Maple Heights, OH – Maple Grove Tavern
JUL 21 Β Dayton, OH – Blind Bobβs
JUL 23 Β St Louis, MO – Crack Fox
JUL 25 Β Cleveland, OH – Wizbang Theater
JUL 26 Β Sherman, NY – Sirius Rising Festival
SEPT 6 Β Pittsburgh, PA – Pitts Art Fest
SEPT 22 Β York, PA – Enchanted Festival
SEPT 26 Dark Castle Festival, Louisville, KY
OCT 5/6 Β Attleboro, MA – Jewelry City Festival
OCT 12 Β Upper Lake, CA – Hexenfest
OCT 25 Β Shepherdstown, WV – TBA
NOV 16 Β Baltimore, MD – Β Fairy Scary Ball
ArtistΒ Links
Background Photo Credit: Nicola Bee
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: FRENCHY AND THE PUNK – “GEAR GEIST”
SPILL ALBUM PREMIERE: GUITARMY OF ONE – THE WAVE FILES
