Whitney - 'Dandelions'
Storming back onto the music scene after a three year hiatus, Chicago-hailing duo Whitney are back with their brand new track ‘Dandelions’ and the announcement of their fourth record ‘Small Talk’.
Formed from the ashes of their previous projects, Smith Westerns, Max Kakacek and Julien Erlich (also previously of Unknown Mortal Orchestra), join forces in a collaborative project that exudes delectable indie pop. Falsetto vocals from Erlich dominate the track with subtle, delicate instrumentation offering a folk-infused soundscape, reminiscent of ‘For Emma, Forever Ago’-era Bon Iver. Oozing bittersweet melodies that complement the equally somber narrative (“I let it slip away / Wildflowers growing high / As the remnants of a life flew by”) that explores heartache and misadventure (“Might take a beer to numb the pain / We took a risk, but you passed the blame / I ain't at my best, don't get me wrong”) - ‘Dandelions’ is a perfectly poetic, layered cut.
Having already released ‘Darling’ from ‘Small Talk’, ‘Dandelions’ is an excellent second teaser for an exciting upcoming project. On the new cut, Erlich notes: ““A couple years ago Max and I were both on the brink of moving across the country to be closer to the people we were dating at the time. Over the span of a few months both relationships somewhat abruptly crumbled, leaving us with equal parts confusion and sadness, mourning the futures that would have accompanied those relationships as well as the relationships themselves. Inspired by those events (and on a whim of Midwestern pride) we wound up spinning the story of ‘Dandelions’ into one of a big city hopeful who gets chewed up and spit back out into the heartland.”
Coming in at just over the three-minute mark, ‘Dandelions’ is a triumphant, beautifully constructed return from Whitney.
Words by Lana Williams
