Auckland singer-songwriter Lexytron’s fourth single Couples is a catchy, upbeat song about the loneliness that singledom can bring. Lexytron says “sometimes being alone is liberating but sometimes it downright sucks”, and Couples embraces the downright suck side of being alone, in a song with a much lighter feel than her releases to date.
As a five-year-old, Leyxtron described herself as “half Greek, half Persian, and half English”, and these influences shine through in this single. Latin percussion sets an infectious beat, with a mandolin providing much of the tonal context. A wonderfully funky bassline ties it all together, and the end result is reminiscent of New Zealand’s Sonic Delusion - “too funky for folk and too folky for funk”.
The lyrics to Couples are simple but relatable: a series of situations in which a single person sees a couple and is unhappily reminded of their singledom. Lexytron’s delivery is honest, and the vocals are upfront in the mix. Using repetition and specific imagery, Lexytron pulls the listener into her moments of loneliness.
It would be tempting to let a song like this become dreary or dramatic but Lexytron balances the raw emotion of a very human situation with the groovy, dancy beats, turning into something empowering. It’s very easy to get into, and the hook and the bridge are both catchy enough to stay with the listener for hours.
Couples is accompanied by a music video made up of footage from 1918 silent film The Cook. This slapstick comedy makes for an unusual but charming music video, featuring some over-the-top characters dancing - two of them as a couple, and as the centre of attention.
Lexytron really has the hang of getting to the point with her songs, and has once again created something playful and catchy out of a painful situation. A debut album, Something Blue, is expected to be released later in the year.
“Half Greek, half Persian and half English” as she described herself age 5; Manchester-born Lexy found her identity in music early on as a pianist and violinist. Her debut album Something Blue crosses genres - flinging the dirt and danger of rock n roll against the bleeding heart and melody of Mozart - and is an alternative girl's guide to love, loss and lust.