Third single and video "UV" from The Melancholy Kings' sophomore album is out
New Jersey rockers The Melancholy Kings present their latest single and video 'UV', a quasi-psychedelic musical journey drawing from Thomas Pynchon’s novel “V”. We follow V and the Whole Sick Crew brought to life through crunchy guitar riffs, psychedelic keyboards, string interludes, a quasi-rap and a bacchanalian finale – all in homage to the enigmatic heroine of Pynchon’s novel.
“UV” features contributions by several notable guests. Famed trumpeter Mac Gollehon(David Bowie, Al Jarreau, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger, Hall and Oates) added his sick improvisations in the outro; cellist Carolyn Jeselsohn played Scott Selig’s Beatle-esqe string arrangements and vocalist Olivia Selig added some soulful belting at the end of the song.
"I wanted both the music and lyrics to embrace multiple genres like the book “V” and the main character, who transforms in many unexpected ways. So we worked in rock, psychedelic, some rap and a classical vibe with the strings and the lyrics being purposefully impressionistic. This song is this kind of mixture with a lot of different things happening, but in the end comes together," says singer/guitarist Michael Potenza.
Bassist Scott Selig adds, “From the start, we wanted the studio version of this song to have a kaleidoscope of aural ear candy, with trippy effects, multiple guitar layers, electric piano, strings and horns. The song originated as a riff, chord progression and embryonic song structure that I recorded and sent to Mike, who fleshed it out and added the lyrics. The band worked up the final arrangement collectively."
According to Skylight Magazine, “The music begins with obvious classic rock sounds, recalling Paul McCartney’s melodic touch and the strong, progressive drive of King’s X, while slight psychedelic elements draw on Tame Impala’s modern haze. This combination establishes a familiar but somewhat off-kilter tone, calming the listener before the song expands into more experimental areas. “
"The video alludes to, without overtly referencing, the characters in the novel “V” – in particular the mysterious title character. It juxtaposes colorful outdoor band performance footage with black & white vignettes (shot old-school on 16mm film) of a V-like woman from various indeterminate time periods in and around New York City, perhaps engaged in semi-clandestine activities," says Scott Selig, who directed the video.
"Later, they are joined by assorted characters (beatniks, punks, flappers, intellectual revolutionaries, hippies, a Russian spy, a Bierkeller-Madl, a recluse) to form a colorful debauched bacchanal, in an indirect nod to The Whole Sick Crew from the novel. An unforecasted rain shower drenched our party, but I think that ended up contributing to a more absurd and interesting atmosphere. The video concept was fleshed out and brought to fruition with the help of emerging cinematographer Jordan Miller, filmmaker Madeleine Grace Smith as “V”, and our friends and family as The Whole Sick Crew".
As of January 8, the video for 'Victoria' is viewable on YouTube. The 'Her Favorite Disguise' album is available on all major streaming platforms (including Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) and can be purchased digitally and on limited edition vinyl on Bandcamp.
