Berlin’s Pretty Average is the brainchild of dynamic duo Candy Bassas (vocals and guitar) and Sergi Cabanes (lead guitar). Born out of a long-standing musical collaboration that traces back to their Barcelona roots, the pair formed this electrifying four-piece band in late 2021. Their sound—a mesmerizing blend of noise and ethereal tones—draws rich inspiration from a diverse array of legends, including the dreamy vibes of Galaxie 500, the transcendental essence of Spiritualized, the synth-laden depths of New Order, the haunting melodies of The Cure, and the raw storytelling of Lou Reed. Bassas’s light, ethereal vocals stand out, however, bringing to mind Altered Images’ Claire Grogan and Alison Shaw of Cranes.
The song conveys a complex emotional journey where physical discomfort, symbolized by a burning face and cold feet, contrasts with the joyous anticipation of a close connection. The singer expresses doubt and vulnerability, finding solace in the distance, which paradoxically brings both tears of joy and a sense of liberation. Ultimately, there’s a realization of entanglement in lies, highlighting a conflicted relationship.
“We wrote this song one night just before catching a very early flight,” says the artist. “Got obsessed with it and wrote the lyrics on my mum’s terrace in Spain. This is one of our favourite songs we ever composed since it has this very intimate and personal feeling, yet it is not afraid to be stupid at times. Even if the topic it is harsh it is referred as self-indulgent humor.”
In their freshman LP, All I Wanted, Pretty Average takes a swan dive into the deep end of the existential angst pool and swims their way through a navel-gazing sense of being alone in a crowded room. The EP’s pièce de résistance, Entwined, is a veritable smorgasbord of Candy Bassas’ otherworldly pipes, weaving effortlessly with Sergi Cabanes’ guitar strings.
The DIY video, shot right in their own stomping grounds, is a raw, unfiltered slice of life (afterlife?) with a side of haunting melody. The whole shebang is filtered through a prism effect that’s trippier than a ’60s acid test. Are those spectres in the background real, or just the figments of a fever dream? You decide.
“We went to the cemetery nearby,” they reflect. “It was a cold morning that conveys a very passive but yet cinematic picture. A repetitive element pictured in the video is fired candles, a symbol of divinity. We love the confusing lens we used in this video combined with the slow tempo, hypnotic.”
Watch the video for “Entwined” below:
Lyrically, Pretty Average delves into the tumultuous landscape of Candy’s life, stirring up a blend of disturbing, upsetting, and frustrating experiences from her past and present. This emotional depth, coupled with Sergi’s hypnotic, effect-laden guitar riffs, lays the groundwork for Pretty Average’s unique aesthetic. To further enrich their sound, the duo has collaborated with additional musicians, crafting their signature style of brooding, noisy rock music. All I Wanted was produced by Francisco Parisi (Minimal Schlager) and mastered by Kramer (Galaxie 500, Low, Half Japanese).
Listen to the single “Entwined” on Bandcamp or via Spotify
Pretty Average is scheduling a tour in 2024 with live shows in Berlin this February.
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