Majorette – Steaks
Today, Queens, NY-based indie/jangle pop singer-songwriter and twee extraordinaire Majorette sharesthe light-hearted tune “Steaks” out now, where she ponders the worst case scenario over a twinkling melody and the warm strings of a violin.
Its accompanying music video, starring Majorette as both a magician and their assistant, is shot on 16mm and styled in the form of black-and-white Méliès silent films. Tonight, Majorette will celebrate the new music live with a variety show at NYC’s The Slipper Room with a real magician, a ventriloquist, an aerialist and Philly’s The Noisy with tickets here.
“Steaks” was inspired by the meat that was in the freezer when Majorette moved into her last apartment. On the story behind the track, the artist shares, “Even though my landlord lived right downstairs, it took me months to return it because I was scared to talk to them. I eventually worked up the nerve to knock on their door, but not before playing out the best and worst case scenarios in my head. One side of me; confident that everything would be fine, and the other imagining the worst possible outcome–this kind of thinking is what the whole song is about. The pun of steaks/stakes makes me laugh and puts most problems into perspective. Maybe it’s not really that big of a deal?”
Collaborators on the track include David Ball (Reclining Nude) on percussion, Bianca Butler on bass, Chris Williams (destroy me!.) on violin, Eli Recht-Appel (Diamond Grinder) and on guitar. Eamon Fordtracked and mixed the songs at Livingrooms in Ridgewood, Queens.
The matching video’s concept emerged as Majorette completed recording the track over a year ago. Featuring costumes handmade by the artist and directed by Paul DeSilva, Majorette stars as both a turn of the century vaudeville magician and their assistant–à la Lindsey Lohan in the Parent Trap. Majorette shares, “I liked the idea of a man vs. himself conflict being represented this way.” Fitting for a visual, the upbeat tempo and dynamics supported the arc of a magic act and the throwing knife finale played on the stakes/steaks pun.
Majorette continues, “When I described the concept to DeSilva, he had the idea to do the effects practically in the style of Méliès silent films. This is our third collaboration together with the same team; Martin Parsekian shot it on 16mm, Elizabeth Chaney made the props, Mike Culhane produced it, and I made the costumes. We were lucky to have Stephen Szmed do lighting for the video which was crucial for achieving the period look.”
Beginning as a project out of her bedroom consisting of demos recorded on her 1986 Yamaha PSS 270, Majorette is the musical project of Queens-based musician Danielle Salomon. In 2024, the artist shared her debut four track EP, Forever Starts Tuesday. Now, after sharing “InnerWorld” earlier this year, Majorette is thrilled to share her singular blend of wit, melody and nostalgia through her latest sparkling track–continuing to shape her thoughtfully crafted, charming sonic universe.
#majorette.band