Photo by Danica Robinson
Raffaella releases LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (Act II), along with a video for the hyperpop banger “Polly Pocket,” via Mom + Pop. Listen/watch “Polly Pocket” produced by Jake Luppen (of Hippo Campus)and Caleb Hinz
While the beats on “Polly Pocket” are viciously upbeat, the song was written in reaction to the reversal of Roe v. Wade. The thought of being dismissed as biological property – a body surrounding an IUD under the threat of becoming pregnant – sparked a rage in Raffaella that made her wonder what the best way to talk about these necessary topics of conversation. Seemingly incongruous with the hits-you-like-a-Sour-Patch-Kid pop production on the song, the subject matter’s addressed with levity and accessibility, while Raffaella sings “If you want me to keep it, maybe you should carry it,” coyly over an onslaught of percussion.
“It’s hard to express the rage and grief sparked by the reversal of Roe V. Wade. I don’t really know how else to put it other than my body has suddenly become the thing that surrounds my I.U.D — the law diminished and devalued my humanity and turned it into biological property. We should not have to exist under the threat of becoming pregnant. I wrestle with this in “Polly Pocket,” a pop song (verging on hyperpop) which some might find contextually incongruous. At first I felt nervous introducing levity to such a heavy issue — it’s a sensitive subject and I would never want to make light of other people’s experiences.
But then I realized that if we are going to talk about this out loud, we have to find ways to destigmatize the fear that surrounds the discussion. I did my best to find a balance in “Polly Pocket,” where “now I get it in, when I wanna / I do not need the drama” becomes “if you want me to keep it / maybe you should carry it.” Also, though it might sound like something you can dance to, the weight of the booming bass feels like I’m singing to the heartbeat of female fury. I rarely smile when I sing it, and when I do I’m so angry that I look like I’m in a horror film. Fear also creeps in, especially when we’re touring the south as an opener, singing to a dark and quiet sea of scrunched faces. There is usually at least one “woo,” which is more than enough to keep me going.”
