“I’ll cross my heart then hope to die in a way that we all can agree on.”
Everywhere you look on social media, there is a bitter generational war afoot. This particular battle sees Generation X square off with Generation Z, in a particularly acerbic new single and video for Boston post-punk band Trailer Swift’s new track, “Cross My Heart.”
“Cross My Heart” is a languorous space-rock reverie, conjured from the ashes of shattered vows and introspective contemplation. This premier single from the much-anticipated Variant LP, scheduled for a June 16th release on Mint 400 Records, elegantly surfs the dynamic ebb and flow of volume – a metaphor for the poignant exposure of one’s innermost self. The lyrics and meticulous rhythmic changes underscore this sentiment perfectly, setting the pulse over a minimalist, halting rhythm.
In the DFJ Media-directed video, we see a band of middle-aged rockers arriving for soundcheck at a dive bar, ponying up to the bar for a couple of brews as they banter about Black Sabbath and exchange quips about their own musical heroes. We’ve seen these types over and over – and they’ve seen it all in their many years on the road. It’s clear they’re still trying to make their dreams happen – and then, betrayal! A much younger, better-looking band rips through “Cross My Heart” as if it were their own. Our heroes aren’t impressed, even though a record exec is, seeing dollar signs exploding off a Harry Styles wannabe. The elder band spends the rest of the video making fun of the Bizarro Trailer Swift and their ‘lazy Twisted Sister rip-off logo.’
This is a fiery protest of the big-wigs of the music industry who constantly mine (read: steal) talent from unsung ghostwriters and underdogs, and assigning their words and music to more youthful avatars. Genuine passion, authenticity, wisdom, and poetic connections are brushed aside for an airbrushed, sanitized, money-making version – one more suitable for social media. This video is the perfect analogy for how Generation X has always handled disappointment: s**t talking, sarcasm, and buried feelings.
Watch the video below:
Trailer Swift is the perfect piss-take moniker for a band debuting themselves with a track about the corruption and outright thievery of the music industry. While the sound is pure grunge, the attitude is punk as hell. The band perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the Boston scene – supremely talented groups who don’t take themselves too seriously.
Variant, the highly anticipated follow-up to the 2020’s six-track EP, You Are Not What You Do, was crafted in the expert hands of Ethan Dussault (Caspian, On the Might of Princes, Malleus) at New Alliance in Somerville, MA throughout 2022 and underwent the finishing touches with Nick Zampiello at New Alliance East in 2023.
They’ve perfectly captured the essence of solitude, dissatisfaction, and subtle doom without spoon-feeding the audience. For those in the know, their lyrics echo this understanding: “There was a dream. Not what it seemed in the end. But I like to pretend that it was.” Their music – an intriguing blend of dark undercurrents and energizing momentum – offers a sense of resolution that makes even the most shadow-laden tracks incredibly enjoyable to experience.
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