Power-pop trio (and recent FLOOD cover stars) MUNA returned today with a new single "Anything But Me." It's the follow-up to last year's massive hit "Silk Chiffon," and it announces their forthcoming album MUNA that's out June 24 on Saddest Factory Records.
In the accompanying video directed by Ally Pankiw, we find Katie Gavin, Naomi McPherson, and Josette Maskin trapped in isolated situations—blindfolded in a the back of a car, handcuffed to a radiator, tied to the rafters via chains, respectively. The Western-inspired hostage situation seems to be a metaphor for the imprisoning relationship that's at the heart of the punchy, upbeat track.
"I don't wanna stick around, tryin' work it out when everything feels wrong," the trio sings in silvery, quick-paced vocals. However, "Anything But Me" isn't your typical scorned breakup song. "But it's all love and its no regrets / You can call me if there's anything you need / Anything, anything but me," goes the rest of the chorus. In the best cases, breakups don't have to be all bad—maybe the timing isn't right, or maybe you're not bringing out the best in each other. Either way, you don't have to be held captive by a relationship when it's your own feelings acting as the chains. "Anything But Me" captures that sentiment and MUNA eventually break free.
“Breaking up is hard to do," the band said in a statement. "In the past we’ve stayed in relationships for a long time, waiting until we hit low lows to admit it was over. 'Anything But Me' is a song about leaving a partnership simply because it doesn’t feel right. It’s about trusting yourself and your instincts enough to walk away from someone while you still have love for each other and before it gets too bad. The video for the song plays with the idea that we’ve been our own captors in relationships, keeping ourselves in unhealthy dynamics, maybe because that’s what feels familiar. The song embodies the lightness and a playfulness that floods in when you realize that there’s no lock on the door, no one’s holding you back—you can untie the knot and skip into the sunset whenever you’re ready. Now, who can guess what attachment style I have?”
Watch "Anything But Me" below—and if you're at SXSW, be sure to check out their set at the Saddest Factory showcase presented by FLOOD.
