Video: Cathedrals, ‘Try to Fight’

0
Cathedrals (photo by Alex Cy Ember)
Cathedrals (photo by Alex Cy Ember)

Still coming down from the buzz of the release of their self-titled debut EP in 2014, San Francisco synth-pop duo Cathedrals have started releasing a slew of new singles one by one. This time around, producer Johnny Hwin and vocalist Brodie Jenkins brought touring members Mitchell Wilcox (drums) and Jonathan Hererra (bass and synths) into the studio with them. So far four tracks have been released, most recently “Autumn Split,” a ’90s-esque pop song rich with R&B undertones.

Nineties R&B isn’t the only inspiration Cathedrals have tapped into this year. In “Try to Fight,” Hwin and Jenkins take us all back in time to a land of spandex and neon … it’s pretty wonderful. The bubbly ’80s tune shimmers with Jenkins’ blissful vocals over an impossibly catchy dance track. The video, directed by Jenkins’ childhood friend Jesse Fleece, pays homage to the likes of “Flashdance” and “Dirty Dancing.” The performance in the video was choreographed by Denna Thomsen (worked on Sia’s “Elastic Heart”) and stars Kylie Shea and Nick Baga, who will make you want to rip that scrunchie out of your hair and jump in to Patrick Swayze’s arms. OK, maybe hair wasn’t at its best in the ’80s, but “Try to Fight” is a great reminder of the carefree attitude embodied by pop music of the decade.

||| Watch: The video for “Try to Fight”

||| Also: Stream “Autumn Split”

||| Live: Cathedrals will play Sept. 20 as part of “Give a Home,” a collaboration between Amnesty International and Sofar Sounds in which 1000 musicians will play in living rooms across the globe. It will be live-streamed with support from VICE and Facebook Live.

||| Previously: ‘Photos: Cathedrals, Empires and LANY at the Echo’ and ‘Ooo Aaa’ and ‘Want My Love’