Ilana Tel-Oren on July 27th, 2022

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It’s true, Dani Mack is making a comeback with a brand new moniker and charming new singles. Originally creating music under her given name, Baylee Barrett is opting for a clean slate, naming her new project as an ode to her father, whose first and middle name are Dani Mack. Together with her co-worker and bandmate Chris Reagan (bass, co-writing), she says she’s finally releasing the music she’s always wanted to, after being shelved by a former producer for too long.

The Texas-born singer-songwriter got her start singing at Sunday church service in her hometown and moved to L.A. to start her true music career after her mother passed. “Someday” was the first single released as Dani Mack, featuring sullen strumming and fuzz under her ethereal vocals, bringing to mind acts such as Soccer Mommy and (Sandy) Alex G.

The duo are back today with the new single, “Fleabag,” a song they self-produced with additional drums and mixing by Whistler Isaiah of Hippo Campus.

“‘Fleabag’ has layers to it,” says Barrett. “In simplest terms, which most can relate to, it’s a nod to dating and how downright terrible it is. On a deeper level, it’s a song about my own sexual repression and difficulties with casual relationships. I grew up a devout Christian and letting go of the guilt that was instilled in me from such a young age is still something I struggle with. That being said, dating for fun is really hard for me. There’s still a little part of me that’s afraid that come Judgment Day, I’m not getting into those pearly gates because I had premarital sex with some with some guy from a dating app.”

Directed and filmed by Joel Lavold, the video for “Fleabag” features Barrett and Reagan dressed as a nun and priest respectively, dancing in a lot by the train tracks and lounging kiddie-poolside while singing directly to the camera. “God forgive me for the things I’ve done,” she sings as the duo dance around lightheartedly.

“Fleabag” is out via Future Gods.

||| Watch: The video for “Fleabag”