Ears Wide Open: Mediocre

Kevin Bronson on October 29th, 2021

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There seems to be no other way to start this little narrative but to state the obvious: The duo going by the name Mediocre isn’t. I know, I know … No duh, you think, ever heard of irony? Besides, the name Total Shit was already taken.

Anyway, fans of ’90s alternative rock and dream-pop will want to glom onto the creations of the Culver City-bred duo of Piper Torrison and Keely Martin, pals who got together five years ago when they were in high school and who are the latest artists releasing music via Dangerbird Records’ Microdose series. In fact, the label is going “macro” with Mediocre, planning to release three singles rather than just two.

There’s a 10,000 Maniacs-like bittersweet quality their second single “Give In,” which deals with “emotional turmoil of a fleeting first love” and is the follow-up to the propulsive, ebullient “Waiting for Your Heart.” The former song actually dates to their early days and was reshaped with the aid of producer Danny Nogueiras of NO WIN.

Martin directed the videos for the singles (and the forthcoming third); the visuals were made in conjunction with her production company, Bowie Nix, which she co-founded with cinematographer Ginger Port.

||| Watch: The videos for “Give In” and “Waiting for Your Heart”