OffBeat is excited to premiere “Motions,” the latest track in New Orleans rockers Stoop Kids’ monthly single series. Of course, the “rockers” label is kind of an unjust pigeonhole, as the band effortlessly blends a variety of musical styles with nearly every tune.
Stoop Kids open Tipitina’s 2016 Free Fridays series. Photo by Jeffrey Dupuis
“Motions” is no different. Self-recorded at the band’s “stoop house” in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood, the song combines a breezy groove with psychedelic interludes, an ad-libbed spoken word section and a delightfully catchy chorus.
“We’ve always gravitated toward artists like Prince, Of Montreal, and Talking Heads because they really successfully toed the line between accessible pop music and artistic vision,” saxophonist Thomas Eisenhood told OffBeat. “We hope to do the same.”
Lyrically, the new single deals with the unwelcome down time between touring and focusing on music, as well as the restless feeling that comes with it. “I’ve been working too hard / I’ve been living too late / I don’t know how to stop,” sings frontman Griffin Dean with some backing help from Eisenhood and bassist Sam Fruend.
“The song is a sort of juxtaposition between the ‘normal life’ and touring,” Dean explains. “Working in a steady job and having a girlfriend feels absurd, whereas living on the road playing music in different towns every night is comforting and normal.”
Those lyrical hints of disappointment are overwhelmed by the eclectic, upbeat nature of the music, which is decidedly less dark than “Quit You,” the first single in their monthly series. It’s a winning contrast that would make Prince, Talking Heads and Of Montreal proud.
Stoop Kids will headline Tipitina’s on Saturday, September 3 as part of the iconic New Orleans venue’s Back to School show. They’ll also release another new song every month for the next five months (“Motions” is #6 in their eight part “single countdown”).
Give “Motions” a listen here:
