Daily Dose: Escape Artist Lovers, “Follow the Leader”

Earlier this year, Rain Phoenix and Kirk Hellie began making music together as Escape Artist Lovers after having been in each other’s lives for more than a decade. Phoenix has been in the orbit of music for most of her life, having led the band Aleka’s Attic with her late brother River from 1987 until 1992, and she released a few previously unheard tracks (“Where I’d Gone,” “Scales & Fishnails” and the Michael Stipe-featuring “Time is the Killer”) from that project in 2019. Hellie, on the other hand, has worked with folks like Birdy and Mogwai and has worked in music departments across Hollywood. Together, they worked on Phoenix’s solo debut River back in 2019 but, now, they’ve linked up as co-creators and are churning out passionate tunes.

Their new single, “Follow the Leader,” is a poised amalgam of alt-pop, new wave and noise rock distortion wrapped in a blanket of warm Laurel Canyon vocal confidence. The track is cranked to an 11 and places a precise focus on Phoenix’s singing, as Hellie’s backing harmonies fill out the arrangement seamlessly. As a follow-up to previous singles “Hey Motherfucker” and “Punctuation,” “Follow the Leader” is further confirmation that Phoenix and Hellie hold a chemistry together that can only produce good tunes. I’m convinced there is no other way around this truth, as they’ve proved that they can conjure anything from twangy Americana to teardrop celeste-driven balladry to, of course, raucous rock ‘n’ roll. “Follow the Leader” sparkles and contorts with ease. But, knowing Escape Artist Lovers’ track record already, what comes next will likely be another immersive left turn.

Listen to “Follow the Leader” below.