Pretty Frankenstein has a certain attitude toward the perils of the moment. It comes across in the band’s new single, “Love Letter to the Apocalypse,” just released across streaming platforms.
A slow, deep burn, the song has the feel of something stirring deep within the heart, a creaking refrain of a timeless theme with particular resonance at this inflection point in history.
“It’s talking about being with the person that you love during the chaos of an apocalyptic situation,” said the songwriter in a heartfelt chat by phone. “What it means for me now is a sense of defiance.”
The song had a long road to release, being written by fronthuman Grey Starr for their husband 10 years ago. In that time, it has continually evolved, finding its final form in part shaped by the current line-up of Pretty Frankenstein.
“I’m very happy with this version, you know? It does the most justice to the style I wanted the song to sound,” mused Starr. “A lot of the time when you write a song, you have all these different ideas in your head, and I feel like this is the closest to how I wanted it to sound.”
With the twang of Roy Orbison filtered through the echo chamber of Mazzy Star, the single is a musical love letter to the band’s distinct inspirations and personal roots.
Pretty Frankenstein will follow up the single with a music video this month, just in time for Valentine’s Day, giving fans visuals to their take on love in an apocalyptic world.
The glam-vampire aesthetic of the band lends a playful kink to the probing message of the song, one of love, authenticity and the power of communion in the face of threatened erasure.
“I felt like the song needed to be released now. Right now is a time where we kind of feel hopeless, and there’s a [reflex] to almost go into hiding at the moment,” explained Starr, echoing the sentiment of queer folks all around America right now.
“[For] people like me and other queer people, other queer people of color, and trans people, for my band and really anybody on the spectrum of queerness, I think now is a time to stand proud and be close to one another,” said Starr. “Get closer to your community; be kind of like safety nets for each other.”
Preach.
“My guitarist and my bassist, who sings backup vocals in this song, are married as well. They’re a lesbian couple, and [that brings] more connection and love to the song,” said Starr. Having multiple connections of love and co-creation cloaked in the commitment signified by marriage makes the message all the more salient for the end times.
Starr, who will also be organizing the Filipino Festival in Oakland in May, offers plain and simple advice. “Help your communities,” they summarize.
“[With] all that is going on around us, all these laws targeting queer people, staying in the fight is the most revolutionary thing you can do. I think right now being close to your community of other queer people is very important,” Starr continued.
The message aspires to be intersectional and universal. Starr knows that people across all categories are feeling despondent right now. Can we learn even from those different from ourselves? Pretty Frankenstein and Starr want to spread love by showing love.
“Hopefully, other people will get that same sense from the song, you know?” they said.
As corporate and federal actions align to threaten individuals and communities across a diverse swath of society, Pretty Frankenstein reminds us that it is a time to be loud and proud.
‘Love Letter to the Apocalypse’ by Pretty Frankenstein is streaming now on one’s favorite platform.
