There’s a real knack in conveying something universal through an account of a personal experience. It’s something that Born Without Bones have been getting right for years, and with their new album Dancer they’ve got that combination as close to perfect as possible. New single “Fistful of Bees” demonstrates that perfectly. That’s partly down to the chemistry between longtime members Scott Ayotte, Jonathan Brucato, and Jim Creighton, augmented on this album by Super American drummer Sam Chekoway, all of whom spring to life on this track’s effervescent melancholy. Inspired by Creighton’s own experience as a kid who wanted to play bass, “Bees” is a masterclass, lyrically and musically, in turning adversity on its head and remaining true to yourself—as is its heartwarming video.
“I wrote the idea for ‘Fistful of Bees’ loosely from personal experiences I had with my own father,” explains Creighton. “My parents split when I was five, and their relationship was often tumultuous after the divorce. Every Christmas was often full of fighting between them, and neither had much money so my bass was a big ask. My father landscaped for an older gentleman who owned a music store in Brockton, Massachusetts. I often resented my father, and on the way to the music store he was pestering me that the bass was going to be a waste of money—‘I don’t know why I am buying you this, you’re just gonna throw it in the closet in a month,’ is what I remember him saying, verbatim. This lit a fire in me like nothing had before. I told myself this was my ticket out of this endless family cycle.”
He continues, explaining how the video for “Fistful of Bees” reflects this memory, substituting himself for a girl named Bee, and his bass for a guitar. “Bee’s birthday is coming up and she lets her parents know that she wants a Born Without Bones signature guitar. The father is hesitant and not encouraging, but gets Bee her guitar anyway. When she gets home, opens the guitar case, and puts on the guitar, she’s able to imagine herself playing along with her favorite musicians. The video is supposed to convey that even while the closest people around you may not support your dream, it’s important to follow them anyway to be happy with yourself.”
Watch the visual below, and pre-order Dancer before it drops November 4 via Pure Noise here.
