“The cogs in machines dropping their dreams just for the roof above their heads”
Anglo-German quartet Yetzt, featuring Kie Dawson, Tjorben Reimer, Felix Riedel, and Tobias Kraller, serves up post-punk with edges sharp enough to shave with—always teetering on the brink of beautiful disaster. They’ve got a vibe that nods to the likes of Superheaven, Sunny Day Real Estate, and Hum, and they’ve just dropped a teaser that flips through the emotional playbook of their latest single, Jitterbug.
Fresh off a breakup, the lead singer of Yetzt scribbles his latest track not as a teary farewell but more like a final, frayed journal entry at the tail end of a soured romance. Jitterbug kicks off with a moody, enigmatic intro, only to erupt into a crescendo that’s all guitar and all guts. The song swings wildly from a whisper to a howl, walking a tightrope between deep-seated grief and a knotty mess of feelings. Musically, it’s a nostalgic throwback, bouncing between ’90s alt-rock grooves and indie pop, complete with a post-punk vocal flair. Then, in swoops a guitar riff so uplifting it could’ve been plucked straight from a mid-’80s stadium anthem.
The “cogs in machines” line in the song wryly captures the all-too-common trade-off: dreams for a steady paycheck. It paints a stark picture of individuals morphing into mere gears within society’s sprawling engine, all for the simple prize of keeping a roof overhead—a fundamental, yet starkly bare necessity.
Directed by Gabriella Filopovic, the video sets the band in a vast, initially empty warehouse, transitioning to a more intimate corner replete with a comfy sofa and houseplants—a wonderful visual to the bold idea of meeting the needs of Maslow’s hierarchy. This delightful glimpse into the band’s power pop energy and camaraderie is captured beautifully on film.
Watch the video for “Jitterbug” below:
Yetzt is stirring up the Berlin underground alt-rock scene one dive bar at a time, with gigs lighting up spots like Loophole, Schokoladen, and Bechereck. Their DIY vibe turns every locale—from art cafés to skateparks, even the occasional living room—into a hotbed of rock revelry, knitting a tight-knit bond with fans. At a Yetzt concert, the energy is electric; the crowd dances with such fervor that the venue seems to shake.
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