Lovers to strangers
From all the highs and lows
You had it all but you can’t trust no more
Might still get there
After an extended silence, Canada’s Violentene have finally unveiled their latest single, Savage City, an evocative, dark synth meditation on isolation and urban dread. Rooted in vintage electronics, Roland M channels the lush depths of classic 80s Moogs and Korgs, creating a rich foundation for vocalist Mvrijo to layer her stirring melodies. Her voice soars gently above synth pulses, capturing the unsettling tension of life within an ever-decaying metropolis. Echoing artists like Ladytron and Glass Candy, the duo expertly navigates between lush nostalgia and sharp, contemporary anxiety.
Savage City surges forth with moody hooks and textured layers that conjure the anxieties of contemporary existence. The lyrics explore emotional seclusion and the slow erosion of trust, depicting an internal struggle with fading hope and an urgent yearning for something genuine.
Violentene masterfully paint a portrait of modern disconnection, wrapped elegantly in dark synth precision. Fans of Chvrches, Empathy Test, and classic Depeche Mode will find resonance in this expressive and thought-provoking return.
Listen to Savage City below and order the single here.
Roland Marckwort started Violentene in 2017 as a desire to reconnect with early ambient/dream pop musings he began with Venus Swirls in the late 90s. That project led to electro outfit Liquified, releasing two successful and acclaimed CDs and much chart success, as well as a label deal with World Domination Records.
After a short DJ stint, Roland moved on to the indie-new wave foursome Politique, who released two albums, many a sold-out show, and a Canadian mini tour during 2008-2012. In 2017, Roland collaborated with NYC singer Dani Mari (Primitive Heart) and produced and released two EPs: Denial and Phantom Youth, both gaining a strong underground following with the shoegaze-dream pop crowd.
Mvrijo has been singing since her teens and has fronted popular Canadian indie rock and pop acts. Mvrijo and Roland connected locally in Ottawa in late 2019, with the focus being able to play live finally and work locally and so began work on the Otherworld EP quickly; her inclusion into Violentene has been the perfect missing piece, fulfilling the vision the duo has embarked upon.
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