S.Lo on April 12th, 2019

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For both the politician and the rock star, stardom may be a disembodying experience, especially for the dissociatively-inclined. In their latest video for their single “Tap Dancer,” directed by Jonathan Chu in one shot, Local Natives enlisted the genius of dancer Micaela Taylor. As frontman Kelcey Ayer sings about yearning for simpler times before he “knew of artificial roses” following a “champion on the podium” who lives an empty, lonely life after the adulating crowds have gone, Taylor embodies so much more to the story than words are able to convey with Shalamar-inspired pops, modern interpretive and African dance traditions. Whereas Local Natives ply their reflective thoughts on having to “watch every step” in what’s become a “minefield” verses another seeing it all as a “tap dance,” Taylor is able to embody it all, the struggle, the push and pull and the careful celebration. The song ends with a sample of a familiar commercial announcement selling “the quality you need at the prices you want and the brand names you trust” as Taylor clutches her face before morphing into a cold-stared presentation stance. Violet Street, produced by Shawn Everett (Alabama Shakes, Kacey Musgraves, the War On Drugs), will be out April 26 via Loma Vista Recordings.

||| Watch: The video “Tap Dancer”

||| Live: Local Natives play a free show at Amoeba on April 25 (info), the Observatory OC on June 20 (soldout) and the Hollywood Palladium on June 22 (tickets). 

||| Previously: “When Am I Gonna Lose You,” “Cafe Amarillo,” Jaws of Love (Kelcey Ayer), Jaws of Love interview, “Live at the Fox Theatre in Pomona,” “Sunlit Youth” (album), Live in Silverlake, “Villainy,” Live at Hollywood Forever, “Past Lives,” Live at the Way Over Yonder Festival, Live at the Greek Theatre, “You & I,” Live at Coachella (2013), “Heavy Feet,” “Breakers (Superhumanoids remix),” “Hummingbird,” “Breakers” (video), Live at the Satellite, “Breakers” (stream), Live at the Disney Hall, “Wide Eyes (remix),” “World News,” Live at Coachella (2010), “Airplanes,” Live at the El Rey, Live at Spaceland – residency, Interview, Ears Wide Open