Renowned performance artist and musician Rachel Mason, freshly signed to Los Angeles-based Cleopatra Records, has announced her forthcoming single 'Tigers in the Dark', along with an accompanying video, directed by Matthew Spiegelman and choreographed by Haylee Nichele. This is the first single from the forthcoming album 'Das Ram'.The single, which is due out on September 9, will be followed by the 'Das Ram' LP, to be released digitally by Cleopatra Records and on limited edition cassette by Practical Records.
This song is written from the voice of an imaginary animal-human hybrid, who expresses the idea that real life only occurs on the stage, as it represents the creative dimension where everything is possible. This video's first screening took place during an immersive theatrical performance at LTD Los Angeles, which involved infamous DJ Rodney Bingenheimer (a.k.a. Rodney on the Roq) and a virtual reincarnation of his legendary English Disco. 'Das Ram' is the first complete set of songs written and performed with Mason's longtime creative partner Jeff Hassay. An artist, writer and publisher, who also co-runs an art gallery, Hassay recorded, mixed and produced these tracks at his studio in Los Feliz. He has previously worked with Jonathan Richman (Modern Lovers), Jennifer Herrema (Royal Trux, Black Bananas), Avi Buffalo, Chris Cohen (Deerhoof), and Carolyn Penny Packer (Bouquet). "Tigers In the Dark is one of those songs that felt like it was already written when I started singing it. Jeff was playing this little guitar riff and I just heard the lyrics and the melody instantly. It felt like it was just handed to me," explains Rachel Mason. "The voice of the character in the Tigers song feels like it just wanted to exist with or without me. I'm just the vessel that gets to carry it out into the world right now. The video feels like it magically coalesced."APPEARANCES
Aug. 12 - HM157, Los Angeles - 'Surrealist Fantasy' 9-Year Anniversary(with The Centimeters)
Sept. 2 - HM157, Los Angeles (L.A. Drones Album Release)
Sept. 12-17 - Monkey Town, Los Angeles (1-week residency)
Until Aug. 14 - 'Starseeds' Art Project on view at LTD Los Angeles
Videos