Ben Kweller shares the Origins of recent single “Carelesss”: Stream

Origins is a recurring new music characteristic that offers musicians the possibility to tug again the veil on what influenced their newest observe. Right this moment, Ben Kweller explains why he’s so “Carelesss” about bullies.

Within the waning days of summer time, college looms massive for teenagers throughout the nation. For some, meaning new garments, reunions with pals after being away at camp, and/or one other likelihood to make the group. Sadly for others, it’s the beginning of one other yr of ostracism and bullying. It’s these tormented outsiders that Ben Kweller sings to on his new single, “Carelesss”.

Kweller, who solely lately returned from a five-year hiatus, delivers one other rollicking observe with “Carelesss” that teeters between energy indie and punk rock. Synthesizers squeal over what’s practically a ’50s pop hit on the refrain, whereas the verses grind like a storage nation document locked within the groove. There’s a way that Kweller’s disregarding expectations and doing no matter feels proper within the second of composition, which effectively displays the themes of defiant self-expectance within the lyrics. “I’m the woman in zebra tights wearing black/ I do know who I’m so get the fuck off of my again,” Kweller sings, as soon as once more taking the attitude of his fictional character Ann Catastrophe. “The youngsters in school suppose I’m only a sheep inside/ Herein lies the nice divide.”

Take a hearken to Ben Kweller’s “Carelesss” by way of the Steve Hanft-directed music video under.

“Carelesss” is our newest hearken to Circuit Boredom, the brand new album due later this yr. For extra on how heading again to high school to face the bullies impressed the brand new single, Kweller has damaged down the music’s Origins. You may also get tickets to his upcoming live shows right here.

College sucks, welcome again!:

I attribute plenty of my college survival to my nature and rather a lot to my dad or mum’s nurture. One other guiding mild for me was Kurt Cobain. Although I by no means knew him, he was my chief in some ways. By means of his music and interviews (his teachings, actually) I someway knew if I simply stayed the course, stayed true to who I used to be, all the things can be okay in the long run. I additionally discovered that suicide wasn’t the reply to my issues. Wanting again although, I now know that I used to be the exception to the rule… I usually take into consideration the youngsters that weren’t as fortunate as me. I take into consideration my sister Heidi, and my good friend Dalton. They had been bullied and harassed a lot that it ate them up inside. Heidi switched faculties, Dalton dropped out. We now know that over three million youngsters are bullied yearly and over 150,000 of them skip college simply to keep away from this punishment. Punishment for what? For being totally different? For not wanting or performing a sure approach? What the precise fuck!

Bullies:

“Carelesss” is the third BK music based mostly on my fictitious good friend and alter-ego, Ann Catastrophe. Hardcore Kwellerheads will bear in mind her from a line within the Sha Sha traditional “Commerce, TX”. And naturally, there’s the music “Ann Catastrophe” from the On My Means album, which is an all-out ode to his punk heroine.

Ann Catastrophe doesn’t give a shit about something besides authenticity. She’s herself it doesn’t matter what. After I was writing “Carelesss” I used to be excited about these highschool days of strolling to my locker or consuming within the cafeteria — excited about how I simply wished to get out of that small city. Because the music stored progressing I spotted that Ann Catastrophe was the primary character, not me… In actual life, I stored to myself and did my very own factor. If Ann was in my sneakers, she’d positively be boisterous and trigger a scene in honor of the underdog.”

’90s MTV:

For the “Carelesss” video, I went again to the primary video director I ever labored with, Mr. Steve Hanft. Hanft is finest identified for his work with Beck and Elliott Smith, notably the seminal ’90s hit “The place It’s At”. Hanft and I hit it off within the mid ’90s when the we shot the video for Radish’s debut single, “Little Pink Stars”. Steve is the most effective. First off, he’s a musician which is large if you’re making a music video. Nothing pains me greater than when the image is out of sync with the music, like if you see the drummer hitting a snare when the music isn’t hitting a snare! I knew I wished to seize the quirkiness of Ann Catastrophe and the entire “Carelesss” vibe. As quickly as I learn Steve’s remedy with dancing zombie ladies and guitar grim reaper, I knew he was the dude to knock this out of the park. To not point out that We’ve wished to work on one thing ever since we did “Little Pink Stars” again 20+ years in the past!