[Cover photo credit to Jessica Christian IG_@lovesquish]
LA-Based Queer Indie Rock artist Stevi Daft is also a tarot-card reader who finds that audiences often overlap. She will be releasing new single and video “Vertigo” on December 6th 2023, a song which functions as an actual banishment spell in action for an affliction that bedevils her life. The new video is even shot in such a way to suggest the disorientation that vertigo creates for those who suffer from it. Alongside this new track, Stevi has previously released the EP Empress, named after the tarot card representing the birth of creative projects.
Today, we’re very pleased to debut both the track and video here on Wildfire Music + News.
In the song, we experience the different modes of vertigo musically in interesting ways as Stevi guides us into the music through meditative vocals reflecting on vertigo as an illness. Then, as the song transitions to the more frightening experience of the “black hole” of losing ones sense of up and down, stronger Rock elements take over, with heavy drums and electric guitar suggesting a storm of senstations. The more rocking elements, however, also suggest Stevi’s desire to fight back and we can see the ways in which this song is focused on “banishment”, both calling out and addressing her frightening experiences. Needless to say, having both sides to the song makes for a dynamic sound and a dramatic feel to the story of the song.
In the video, this duality between reflection on Stevi’s experiences and her desire to call out vertigo and banish it are emphasized through two visual modes, one where we see her creating a banishment ritual, and one where we see her live playing the song. The live play is actually the active banishment element of the song, which suggests that the emotion involved in those vocals and lyrics may be every bit as effective as more ritualistic and symbolic actions of other kinds.
Taken together, the song and video form a perfect pairing, bringing together the reality of the dark experiences that Stevi Daft wants to conjure and banish, and also allowing space for the audience and viewer to consider what things in their lives cause fear and chaotic feelings. It encourages them to reflect on what they might need to summon the bravery to “banish”, too, in the quest for healing.
Stevi Daft shares about “Vertigo”:
Vertigo can be so debilitating, and I had a particularly bad episode on the day I wrote this. I had tried so many things to keep it at bay and get rid of it, but I hadn’t tried a spell, which seems so obvious now!
Queers are very into magick. There’s something about the ‘other-ness’ and self-reflection of trying to understand who we are in the face of a society that has made us consistently question and defend our identities that seems to call to many of us.
This project (and this song) were born of necessity. I hope that once the song is out, the spell will be complete and my vertigo will be released.
She further explains about collaborating on and recording the song:
“Vertigo” was recorded at The Market in Echo Park – Kyle and Pete are the best. Legit, stand-up guys who really want to do each song justice and are suuuper talented. They listened to all my crazy ideas (3/4 time for the verses, 4/4 time for the choruses, the key change, switching up the rhythm of the guitar riff partway through… this all sounds so chaotic on paper, but they helped create a sonic world for this song that works. We also did another song, “Comedown”, that will be out next year.
Will Gorin (Slothrust) plays drums for this project live and we were fortunate enough in between his touring schedule to have him record “Vertigo” in the studio. He is a complete badass — listen for the double bass drum!
Claire Gohst (Paper Citizen) mixed this song to perfection and I love her to bits. She also plays guitar with us live, so she has an intimate understanding of the song.
