The artist Shares playful new 80s-inflected single and riotous self-directed video for ‘Night Sweats’
This new journey sees Findlay at her most open, transparent, and introspective yet, drawing upon her own personal experiences since the release of full-length 2017 debut ‘Forgotten Pleasures’.
With complex, fully-realised themes ranging from grief and loss to the struggle of losing and re-building one’s confidence, through to the challenges and pitfalls of the past couple of years, all serve to inspire a range of tracks across the album.
And there’s technological prowess across the board, with mastering by five-time Grammy Awards winning engineer Antoine ‘Chab’ Chabert (Daft Punk, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sebastien Tellier).
“I started writing songs when I was very young, maybe 14/15 so I’ve been doing what I do like half my life at this point. It’s been a very strange journey to get to where I am. I feel like I made a lot of mistakes and got fucked around a lot by the industry when I was younger but it’s got me to the place I’m in now where I’m very content, I’m working with a great team and I’ve learned a lot along the way. I’m very happy to be self-releasing my next record.”
She reveals.
‘Night Sweats’ is Findlay at her genre-melting finest, and a sharp, tasteful insight into her unique artistic psyche; a perfect representation of her impeccable alternative sound. Funky and exuberant, ‘Night Sweats’ toe-taps its way through its 80s-inspired roots, plucking out the very essence of the era, both sonically and visually.
It’s a testament to the message of the album that, whilst built on life’s hardships, you can find reason to thrive, even when faced by true challenges.
Natalie (Findlay) reveals,
“Night Sweats came to me in a kind of stoned fever dream. I was on holiday in Lisbon when the riff just came into my head and I was wandering around my Airbnb singing it for ages, then when we got home and came to put down the riff it sounded miles better faster. It was a pretty instant decision then to make it more 80s sounding as the riff lended itself to that in a big way.”
The juxtaposed, explorative aura of the record is highlighted wonderfully, with Findlay initially “messing around singing bullshit lyrics and gibberish over the top. The voice and the first line – ‘who said it was all in your head?’ – kinda stuck, triggering the mood and lyrics for the whole song. Lyrically, I wanted to keep it tongue in cheek.”
“I just try to write as much as I can. I take breaks to do other creative things like directing videos and writing stories when I’m not focused on music. I need lots of outlets and things to do though music is obviously my number one priority.”
But though lively, it’s the deft mix of light-hearted yet contemplative tones that make this an instant classic. “It’s a kind of crisis talk with myself about being a mess, smoking too much, living vicariously and waking up in cold sweats wondering if I’m making the right choices” she adds.
With the video, Findlay again develops her glowing reputation for nuanced directorial flair –
“I always said I wanted to do a work out, choreographed video with fun characters for this track and really go for it with the 80s aesthetic and just have fun. I directed this one again myself and it was probably the toughest to organise and get right, especially since I’m an atrocious dancer and this was so very far outside of my comfort zone.” But the result is as accomplished as it is hilarious.
Her looks and aesthetics are heavily inspired by “old movies, 60s and 70s music and fashion (some 80s too ha). I adore Wes Anderson, David Lynch, Kubrick, Michel Gondry. And I guess whatever algorithm Instagram has figured out for me” She continues
“Releasing music by myself and managing myself. It’s really rewarding. I’m LOVING directing my own music videos as well. I feel like I’ve really come into my own in the making of this record in terms of creativity and ambition. Standing on my own feet and doing things my way.”
Creating her own defined, no-nonsense narrative, Findlay explains, “The last few years were tough for me, navigating the death of someone close and dealing with the aftermath, then the pandemic, the lockdowns… my mental health took a big hit. I was totally burnt out. I had to work very hard on myself to get back to a place where I even felt comfortable releasing music and trying to summon the mojo that’s needed to carry a record and put it out into the world. Finishing this album was a really healing experience for me, it was great having something to work towards between all the chaos and heartache.”
‘The Last of the 20th Century Girls’ is a stark reminder that there can always be a light at the end of the tunnel, and Findlay beautifully harnesses the light, dark and every moment in-between – “You can choose to grow from it or let it ruin you. I’m choosing to grow and I’m choosing it now on my terms. It’s like I’ve been rolling around in the dark for the last ten years and suddenly the lights just came on.”
Findlay’s ‘The Last of the 20th Century Girls’ releases May 13th, in partnership with Kartel Music Group, available on CD, black & coloured vinyl, plus exclusive bundles via Findlay’s official store – LISTEN | WATCH‘NIGHT SWEATS’ – PRE-ORDER ‘THE LAST OF THE 20TH CENTURY GIRLS’ HERE.
