King Princess Is Ready to Define the Relationship on “Ain’t Together”
Photos by Vince Aung
King Princess, aka Mikaela Straus, graces us with her debut album, Cheap Queen, on Oct. 25. Following “Useless Phrases,” “Cheap Queen” and “Prophet,” her newest track, “Ain’t Together,” finds her caught in a relationship with a partner who says “I love you” easily, but can’t seem to commit. Her previous single, “Prophet,” was a sultry, even funky, ode to obsession. “Ain’t Together” deals with a similar desperation, but its breezy guitar, backing harmonies and vocal delivery are strikingly dispassionate.
“Being chill with you, oh, it kills,” sings Straus, sounding overwhelmingly nonchalant: “I ain’t chill at all.” The song’s buttoned-up approach underscores how keeping a relationship light and unattached can be oppressive in its own right—but it’s so lukewarm, it comes close to falling flat.
On Twitter, Straus describes “Ain’t Together” as “perfect for any occasion” and shouts out Father John Misty for contributing drums to the track.
new song drops tomorrow 🙂
— King Princess (@KingPrincess69) September 2, 2019
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