Breaking Down Before They Build Back Up, Boyish Releases Single “Girls Are Mean”

Stella Feinstein

With an oscillating synth and a wide open pad, queer indie LA-based duo Boyish opens up a new era of their music with a new lead single “Girls Are Mean.” Comprised of singer India Shore and guitarist Claire Altendahl, Boyish has come a long way since emerging with Carnation in 2018. “Girls Are Mean” shows that the duo knows there are more ears listening than there once were.

Photo by Jade Sadler

The duo nails wispy vocals over an anxiety-inducing high BPM in “Girls Are Mean.” Breaking down in the bridge, the release gives listeners the freedom they crave—with the added benefit of head-bangable drums.

Shore and Altendahl describe the lyric “I was so good. But I could get better,” as “the start of a mental breakdown, of feeling like you’ve been trying your hardest for years and aren’t enough yet.” The track unveils a transition from live instruments to a sample-based backing that fans look forward to hearing more of in their upcoming releases.

The release is accompanied by a visualizer said by the pair to depict a “descent into madness” that toys with the lyrics about the narrator’s comfortability to go as far as they need to fit their visual standards.

“We wanted to take something that could be totally normal, like two people having a picnic, and turn it into something a little off putting and gross,” said Boyish. “The underlying theme for the EP we’re working on is the feeling that something is off.”

Through the hazy rock daydream of a song that fans can flock to, Boyish finds a way to call back to their honest lyrics—what separates them from others on the scene. Boyish is scheduled to release its next project in Spring 2023.

Listen here!