Soviet Girls - "Fake Flowers"
I first discovered the Detroit/Brooklyn band Soviet Girls when they sent their debut EP, Filled Up With Nothing, to Radio Free Brooklyn for airplay consideration. Amongst the deluge of music submitted to the station, Soviet Girls stood out for their jangle-fueled indie-pop sound, driven by Anya Baghina’s poised, yet vulnerable voice. Their songs struck me as being both eclectic and cozy, marked by guitars that are gentle and graceful, and soft, patient rhythms. It’s the kind of feel-good indie rock that’s appropriate for any season, but will definitely fill your heart with joy during the warmer months. So, with summer on the horizon, we’re thrilled to premiere the band’s second single of 2020, the charming “Fake Flowers.”
Comprised of Anya Baghina on guitar/vocals, Jonathan Franco on guitar/vocals, and Devin Poisson on drums, the trio has developed a solid chemistry that intersects at the point of their three personalities. As Franco described, “Fake Flowers” came about after the three were jamming on the same chord progression for 20 minutes until something “clicked.” It’s one of those pure musical moments amongst three close friends and collaborators that Franco described as “channeling [their] three musical personalities into something that has its own life.”
Even though the lyrics center around a lifeless object, the dreamy sounding “Fake Flowers” certainly has life. The song’s spirit grows out of its tender, emotive melody that draws from a deep pool of feelings, including frustration, regret, and exasperation. Its primary refrain, “keep trying to grow fake flowers,” reflects the song’s theme of optimistically, and maybe naively, pouring your energy and efforts into something that ultimately can’t evolve, isn’t as it seems, or can’t meet your expectations. In this respect, the breezy guitars and saccharine harmonies sound and feel sanguine, but they ultimately lay the foundation for a swirling guitar solo finale that releases that slowly simmering frustration.
“Fake Flowers” is the second single from Soviet Girls forthcoming debut album, which was recorded and mixed by Fred Thomas and mastered by Warren Defever at Third Man Records. Stream the track below and follow Soviet Girls on Instagram.
Cover art by Devin Poisson.