In the past five years, alternative rock group Kitten has been bubbling to the surface ready to turn the indie music scene on its ears. Their eclectic new track, “Memphis” accompanied by its music video cuts like knife. The tune is ever infectious with its upbeat synth pop sensibilities, but steadfast with a grunge/punk edge. Kitten’s stellar appeal is lead singer Chloe Chaidez, also of Nasty Cherry fame, who commands the single with ambitious gusto.
“Memphis'” video opens with an intro title card that reads like a Quentin Tarantino film. This is photographer, Tsarina Merrin’s directorial debut according to a Red Music press release. Shot in the band’s Los Angeles residence, Chaidez is sitting on what looks like ’70s fashioned retro chairs, at a dinning room table that has a coffee mug on it displaying “Someone in Memphis loves me”. Chaidez is adorned in seductive yet tasteful nightgown attire. The camera then moves to the backyard where Chaidez is walking towards the rest of the band who are jamming out in the background. This sets the tone of the song filled with memories of falling in love, rejection and hope.
The group which consists of guitarists Dave Stagno and Parker Silzer, bassist Blu DeTiger, keyboardist Max Tsiring and drummer Rex DeTiger are heavily present in the video. Whether it’s in scenes where they’re enjoying the blistering summer heat on the front porch lawn downing Capri Sun’s, crowding around in the dinning room or joining Chaidez on top of their roof for shenanigans. The video switches between scenes where Chaidez is in pig tails sitting on an unmade bed which adds a fun and kitschy aesthetic.
At one point in the lyrics Chaidez laments, “Plane ride 5 A.M how’d we end up at a dirty hotel down in Memphis? You’re a bedroom guy, I’m a bedroom girl But you know it don’t mean the same thing/ Demolition guy, shout out loud, you know you are depressing/ Does your mother care? Does she still pray? By this time next, you’ll be married/ And you’ll quit your job, and I bet you will/Bet you’ll never come back to Memphis, I bet you’ll never come back to Memphis”. The feeling of pursuing a relationship or grasping at semblance of a future with someone, are messages that resonate with the audience.
Not everything is doom and gloom as the lyrics switch from somber moments and memories of love filled with levity. The video captures this well with Chaidez taking a dip in the tub and bouncing up and down in bed with the other band members breaking into scenes of laughter and abrupt dance moves. The song will be featured on the band’s upcoming Goodbye Honeymoon Phase EP.
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