With the help of bands like Foxing, St. Louis has developed as a major exporter of DIY-minded musicians peddling in everything from individualistic art rock to scuzzy punk. With only two songs to their name at this point, Hot Joy seem to strike a balance between these two descriptors, with debut single “Fingers on My Side” introducing the band’s colorful, lo-fi post-punk-y sound paired with the layered voices of co-vocalists Austin McCutchen and Nicole Bonura—the former of whom serves as an auxiliary member of Foxing’s live band.
Ahead of their recently announced debut EP Small Favor, the band is sharing another bite-sized tune with “Folded Tongue” barely surpassing the 90 second mark. Yet within that space the quartet houses a powerfully grungy instrumental paired with equally confrontational lyrics about, well, confrontation. “This song is sort of about being afraid of confrontation, but leaning into it because you know it’ll make your life easier in the long run,” McCutchen explains. “By not confronting the things that are taking up space in your head, you’re living in a different sort of reality. Not knowing if anything is fact or fiction, feeling the friction of wrestling with those thoughts in your mind all the time.”
“The line ‘Don’t separate the fact and fiction / I need it in the world right now’ speaks to the struggle of being honest and authentic in difficult situations,” adds Bonura. “While it may seem easier to feign agreement to avoid immediate discomfort, this approach ultimately leads to greater issues. The song explores the tension and difficulty of being true to how you’re really feeling or what you need to say, even when it’s uncomfortable. It highlights the importance of not just going along with things, but being honest about one’s feelings and beliefs.”
The track arrives with a video that features clips of the band tearing through the track in a psychedelicized performance space—check that out below.
