I will probably never have the chance to sit down and grab a cup of coffee with St. Vincent, or hold a full conversation and genuinely get a chance to know this artist with whom I’ve become totally enthralled with. But after a recent cover article in Spin, and obsessing with “Surgeon”, her newest track “Cruel” and most of her back catalog, I am making an attempt to peel back the layers of this multi-faceted beauty.
On the exterior, the doe eyed St. Vincent is the epitome of classic beauty and elegance. Much of the same could be said about her music, and in this case “Cruel”. Her voice is as fair as her porcelain skin, and her arrangements tangle and twirl much like her dark curls. But the surface is only half of what makes St. Vincent- the woman and the music, so captivating. Dig deeper and you’ll find one who is a devout student of classic literature, an obvious fact when looking at insightful lyrics dissecting societal expectations of today’s youth. Her appreciation and knowledge for fashion comes across in every meticulously chosen guitar tone, string flare, and layering of instrumentation. And an overall air of maternal love and concern is clearly felt in the warmth that shines through even when discussing the darkest of subject matter. So, as I await the coffee date of my dreams, I will continue to get to know St. Vincent through her spectacular songs like “Cruel”, and for now that seems to be enough.
UPDATED: Below as well is 4 videos of new songs off Strange Mercy, from St. Vincent’s show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
