Every time a new Joyce Tratnyek record comes out, our expectations get positively shattered. Not because we are not aware of the project’s boundary-pushing, alternative flair, but because of the Portland-based innovator’s willingness to always improve and modulate, both from a sonic and lyrical perspective. If previous effort ‘In Bloom’ saw Tratnyek’s long-awaited return to larger-than-life, melancholic shoegaze territories, ‘Bloody Mary’ recenters the focus on pop-leaning matter. Out today, the single ventures into unapologetic authenticity and fearless, bold songwriting, a piece that feels playful and eerie on the surface, but meaningful and introspective underneath.
A few things happen at the same time in ‘Bloody Mary’. Firstly, Joyce reckons with the internalised shame and hidden homophobia she had to deal with when first embracing her lesbian identity. She does it in a very intelligent way, slowly unveiling the twisted process of accepting herself and turning it into audacious artistic fervour. She’s now in control of her own narrative, a message that gets wrapped into a sort of spooky Halloween-esque livery. The second thing that happens in ‘Bloody Mary’ is a Friday the 13th reference. You see, Tratnyek was one of the few heroes who noticed how the day before the (often) feared Valentine’s Day falls on such a prophetic, mystical date.
Aptly titled, ‘Bloody Mary’ weaves into the horror theme with both feet, uncovering a wealth of metaphorical lyricism and playful, dissonant aural charge. Written and produced in its entirety by the American artist herself, the record extends the Joyce Tratnyek saga, reminding us once again of her unmatched creative genius and left-of-field wit.
Recommended! Discover ‘Bloody Mary’ now: