Dublin rock band Pillow Queens, who’ve shared stages with IDLES, Pussy Riot, and Future Islands, independently released a very good debut album last year called In Waiting. Today they’re announcing they’ve signed to Royal Mountain Records. Such news calls for celebration, which comes in the form of the single “Rats.”
As many know, working in the service industry sucks a lot, and working in the kitchen—I can only imagine—has to be even more stressful. But what about falling in love with a new co-worker while a kickass band plays outside? That seems like an unforgettable mood pivot. This is what happens in the video for “Rats,” and if you’re a hopeless romantic like myself, it’s hard not to gush a bit over it and fall in love with the track even more.
“Filming the video for ‘Rats’ was catharsis at its best,” said guitarist Pamela Connolly. “After 18 months of no gigs and being inside, we finally got a chance to gather in a venue and simulate a real life gig with some of our closest friends. The chant section towards the end of the song is usually a highlight of our live set and we had really missed that energy so having a chance to recreate that was really special.”
Aside from the fun visual directed by Michael Maxxis, “Rats” is joyous, rebellious rock music. It’s got a robust, unifying chorus with some catchy pop-punk undertones. “I’m not a rat if you’re not a rat / I won’t say nothing if you touch me like that,” goes the chorus. Other lines indicate that a tiresome routine is consuming one’s lifeforce: “Life of the party / You’re outta body / Got hands in your heart,” reads the opening line, and later switching between perspectives, “Feed me fun ’til the fallacy’s over.”
Connolly continued on about the track saying, “Lyrically the song deals with a moment of madness brought about by a mundane life where you have resigned your creativity and drive. The song flashes through a work-work-drink repeat existence and delves into feelings of low self esteem and apathy. The screaming chorus, while spouting similar themes, boils over with frustration and recklessness that threatens to topple its own meagre existence.”
Watch the video below.
