The latest from Rain Phoenix and LaunchLeft’s Launched Artists Digital Singles Series arrives today courtesy of 22-year-old Los Angeles-based singer/composer Simone Istwa.
“I started out making hardcore and studying electro-acoustic/experimental music,” they revealed. “I like to imitate all kinds of music. I see producing tracks as playwriting or theatre.”
That theatrical-sensibility was recently showcased in their striking cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Bird on a Wire” for Hulu’s The Great series, and now in the visual for the new single, “Driving,” premiering below. With Simone dozing-off while driving through Los Angeles visuals—including palm trees, cemeteries, North Hollywood’s Circus Liquor store, Philippe’s french dip shop, army tanks and helicopters, and ultimately a burning cop car—the song’s ethereal tone takes on an even darker edge.
“’Driving’ is a song about how difficult it is to be nice to yourself,” says Istwa.
Watch the video below and stream or download the track available everywhere now.
