In our modern world, the predatory nature of nonstop screen time and the relentless 24/7 news cycle has become a constant companion, weaving itself into the very essence of society. This unending torrent of information preys on our attention, stoking anxiety and fear. We are perpetually connected, yet increasingly isolated, lost in a digital flood that often distorts reality. The ceaseless news cycle magnifies crises and conflicts, leaving us in a state of perpetual unrest. This relentless exposure takes a toll on our mental health, fostering a culture of stress and distraction, eroding our ability to focus, reflect, and engage meaningfully with the world around us.
Arizona’s Sonoran Desert – a place one would think offers refuge from the deluge – is home to multi-instrumentalist Josué Kinter, who pens dark and dreamy ballads influenced by cowboy crooners like Lee Hazlewood and avant-pop artists such as Scott Walker and Velvet Underground. With his backing band, The Empty Pleasures, he channels the sounds of early Americana, jazz, and blues through a moody post-punk lens, using ambient and experimental textures—always with a nod to his beloved desert home.
Yr Not Safe, the debut single from Josué Kinter’s upcoming EP Such Empty Pleasures, departs from the ensemble approach of his first two albums and explores heavier, more aggressive territory with a full band. With droning keys and a dark nihilistic backbeat, Yr Not Safe harkens to Kinter’s grimier influences such as The Stooges or Sonic Youth.
Yr Not Safe evokes a chilling landscape of paranoia and fear, where words on screens seep into minds like poison. There is no refuge, no secret space, only a relentless reminder of vulnerability. The stark message: safety is an illusion, found only in death. The image of a rabbit fleeing from a child with a gun underscores the urgency and inescapability of this threat.
The music video, entirely DIY—self-directed, self-edited, and shot on a budget of less than $100—plunges the viewer into a fever dream. A pair of clowns watches the band perform on an old television set, interspersed with visions of antique circus acts. In this surreal world, one must question: who is the spectator, and who is the spectacle?
Watch the video for Yr Not Safe below:
Listen to Yr Not Safe via Bandcamp or Spotify, and order here.
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