Jess Cornelius – Laps In the Drugstore
Today, New Zealand-raised, Los Angeles-based artist Jess Cornelius reveals a new single/video, “Laps in the Drugstore” from her new sophomore album CARE/TAKING, out June 14th via her new label Tender Loving Empire Records.
A soaring track with rollicking, full-band energy and stabbing piano keys, the track features simple, 1960s girl-group drum parts and a single note, Strokes-inspired guitar line. “I started writing ‘Laps in the Drugstore’ several years ago, but it was just the opening chords and melody,” Cornelius explains. “It wasn’t clear how to finish it or what it was really about. But it stuck in my head and eventually I came back to it in the middle of making the album. And then it made sense — I’d been so scared of changing my situation even though it was crushing my self-esteem. And once I finally did, the future opened up. Something comes behind, every single time.”
On the video, Cornelius further adds: “Watching the relentless and preventable horrors inflicted on Gaza over the past six months has made releasing new music a dissonant experience – it can all feel so trivial. But a friend recently reminded me that, like art, joy is also resistance, and this video is really centered on that: not losing your own joy and humanity while pushing for change. I love making music videos because they feel a lot like songs or stories: I never know what I’m really making until I’m over halfway through. This one was just me with my phone and a tripod and a big rock…and my kid makes a sweet cameo too.”
Jess Cornelius Tour Dates
Fri. June 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Scribble
Thu. July 11 – Sacramento, CA @ Starlet Room
Fri. July 12 – San Francisco, CA @ Kilowatt
Sat. July 13 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Crepe Place
Thurs. July 18 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Sat. July 20 – Portland, OR @ The Showdown
Sun. July 21- Vancouver BC @ Wise Hall
Thu. Aug 8 – New York, NY @ TV Eye
Fri. Aug 9 – Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse
Sat. Aug 10 – Philadelphia, PA @ MilkBoy Philly
Sun. Aug 11 – Baltimore, MD @ OttoBar
Mon. Aug 12 – Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
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