Pitchfork Premieres Video For Xenia Rubinos' Track "Lonely Lover"
Pitchfork is premiering a new video from soulful songwriter and singer Xenia Rubinos, who, as Spin recently proclaimed, “truly crosses borders with her multi-genre-hyphenate instrumental textures beneath Billie Holiday-esque croons.”
The track “Lonely Lover” is as sonically inventive as it is sultry and soulful. It is from her forthcoming album Black Terry Cat out June 3rd which Rubinos describes as “a #browngirlmagic carpet ride powered by deep pocket backbeats and funky bass lines.”
The accompanying video for “Lonely Lover” mirrors the song’s defiant attitude perfectly, with a montage of elegant and gritty imagery filmed on and around the Italian city of Napoli.
As Rubinos recounts, “Smack in the middle of my coast to coast US, tour, I hopped on a plane to Italy where we shot this video for in the magic volcanic city of Napoli with Director Francesco Lettieri. The aesthetic behind my new album is rough elegance, I wanted this video to exude that through photography that contrasts decadence, street culture and elegance. Napoli was the perfect location. The city feels electric. We filmed in this gorgeous abandoned church that was completely looted. "Lonely Lover" is this mami who's just down on her luck, she's just about had it, has no fucks left to give, but calm in the face of everything falling apart around her. The day after the shoot, I flew back to NYC and got right in the tour van that night, driving to a show. The next morning it felt like none of that had ever happened, I dreamt it, except now I have this video to prove it.”
Watch the video for Xenia Rubinos' “Lonely Lover” here: http://pitchfork.com/news/64936-watch-xenia-rubinos-lonely-lover-video/
Early Praise For The Song Lonely Lover:
"she’s her own melting pot, and musically speaking, she pulls on enough funk, art rock, and R&B styles to match that. Instead of labeling the combination “fusion,” it becomes her own style free of labels, channeling the spirit of St. Vincent’s Marry Me, Billie Holiday’s vocal flair, and Afro Latin bass that emphasizes jazzy rhythms.” - Consequence of Sound
"Once Xenia Rubinos begins to sing, nothing else matters. Not to shun the importance of ‘Lonely Lover’s dagger-sharp percussion or jazz-nodding, open ended strut. But this is all about the Brooklyn newcomer’s stronghold, which captures a dozen emotions at once.” - DIY Magazine
"On “Lonely Lover,” Rubinos takes a familiar bass line and freaks it with swirling neo-soul vocals that feel both a bit kooky and a bit sexy, flexing her storytelling chops along with her infectious vocal stylings. More, please.” - Flavorwire
"It’s a gorgeous piece of music, and it pulls off the rare trick of seeming warm and familiar yet very distinctive and unusual.” - Fluxblog
“The Brooklyn artist truly crosses borders with her multi-genre-hyphenate instrumental textures beneath Billie Holiday-esque croons. This is a voice smooth like caramel with a bite like pepper, and carries Rubinos’ newest single, “Lonely Lover,” over a swinging staccato bass line.” – Spin
Xenia Rubinos Live Dates
5/18 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Live ^
5/19 - Chicago, IL @ Constellation ^
5/20 - Columbus, OH @ The Basement ^
5/23 - Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5 ^
5/24 - Nashville, TN @ Exit In ^
5/25 - Chattanooga, TN @ Revelry Room ^
5/27 - Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight ^
5/28 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter ^
6/15 - Philidelphia, PA @ The Kimmel Center
7/8 - Trencin, Slovakia @ Pohoda Festival