Speedy Ortiz have unveiled “Ghostwriter,” another look at their upcoming album Rabbit Rabbit. Listen to the single below.
As a nu-metal homage, “Ghostwriter” finds Sadie Dupuis seething with rage — a reasonable reaction to this summer’s boiling heat, and what that means for the future ahead. Rather than breaking stuff, however, the bandleader tries to find a more productive release.
“While ‘Ghostwriter’ ruminates on the horrible realities that stoke my anger — in this song’s case, the death of our climate and the criminalization of environmental protesters — it’s also about trying to live with less rage in the day-to-day,” Dupuis explained in a statement. “And not always succeeding, but not getting mad about that, either. And sometimes directing that angry adrenaline toward positive actions.”
Dupuis continued, “My bandmates picked ‘Ghostwriter’ as a single, perhaps because it subtly nods to our unabashed love of nu-metal. It was really fun to reunite with Alex Ross Perry after shooting together for his Pavement movie last fall, especially the part where we subjected him to so very many Deftones and Limp Bizkit videos for inspiration. The great Josh Gondelman improvised at least a dozen good ‘nu metal cover band’ pun names for the intro, which made it hard to keep a straight face as our nu metal performance Pleasantville-ifies our crowd of friends into the most immaculate Hot Topic c. 2003 getups.”
Check out the music video for “Ghostwriter” below. It features cameos from comedians Josh Gondelman and Emily Panic; musicians Ted Leo, Spencer Peppet (The Ophelias), Nicola Leel (Doe/Customer), Kate Meizner (Jobber), Zoë Brecher (Sad13/Bruce Springsteen); authors Rax King, Amy Rose Spiegel, and merritt k; New Yorker cartoonist Jason Adam Katzenstein; and more.
“Ghostwriter,” like earlier releases “Scabs,” “You S02,” and “Plus One,” previews Rabbit Rabbit, Speedy Ortiz’s first album in five years. The record arrives September 1st via Dupuis’ Wax Nine, and pre-orders are ongoing.
Come September, Speedy Ortiz return to the road for a lengthy North American tour. Grab tickets to a show here.
