THOSE DARLINS NEW VIDEO FOR ‘IN THE WILDERNESS’

NIKKI’s Quote: Here is what Nikki “Darlin” Kvarnes wrote about the song: “In the wilderness was written when I was trying to make sense of the relationships I had been in. It’s about my frustrations with the relationships between men and women and the dreams we build around each other. Under these veils of sleep we find pleasures, illusions and horrific labyrinths in ourselves and lovers exposing our true nature bare.” – Nikki also made a Spotify Playlist in conjunction with this launch.

Nikki’s Spotify Playlist: “Here’s a play list of some songs that I love that share the same fantasies and nightmares. So close your eyes, relax and fall deep into these dreams.” – Nikki Kvarnes

Feel free to share this as well: http://open.spotify.com/user/thosedarlins/playlist/1WjuZ0ikd3uNFAbfdJ5gg3

Those Darlins – In the Wilderness

The video was directed by Veta&Theo of Ovvio Arte who said, “”We were hung up in an opium den in Tangiers with nothing more than a toothbrush and a copy of ‘Blur The Line’. Baudelaire was there ranting about his spleen and insisting that we listen to ‘In The Wilderness’ repeatedly when Those Darlins called and asked us if we were ready to come home and get to work. We put on our war paint and did just that.”

Those Darlins had previously released “In The Wilderness” as a digital single.  Today the song is out on 7″ vinyl b/w “Blur The Line” which is the only vinyl version of the album’s hidden title track.

On the track Those Darlins delve further into the raw, primal themes they are known for while at the same time achieving a sound that is more polished.  The song insists that we need to lay bare the lascivious fantasies within us and “Be an animal if you dare.”  In talking about “In The Wilderness” Nikki told Rolling Stone “I started writing this song with Jessi in the woods of Kentucky in 2010. I was on quite a roller coaster then, dealing with the ups, and downs, and trying to make sense of the relationships I was in.  I seriously broke my arm shortly after and was left with a lot of time to reflect. ‘In The Wilderness’ is about the desire to embrace the mystery of the intangible.”  Brooklyn Vegan has said of the song, “(it) adds a little glitter to the mix, making for sleek, snarly rock” and Paste said that it “showcase(s) a newfound sophistication, proving Those Darlins can be fun without being reckless.”

The new video for ‘In The Wilderness’

Those Darlins – In The Wilderness from Oh Wow Dang on Vimeo.

Since the release of Blur The Line Those Darlins have been touring the US playing to packed rooms and receiving considerable and notable critical acclaim with each stop.  LA’s Grimey Goods said, “Nikki is still sexy as ever with her intoxicating stage presence and badass guitar vixen appeal – and lil Jessi is still a firecracker with those crazy eyes that get deep inside your rock ‘n’ roll soul.” And The Chicago Reader checked their date there as a “best show to see.” This first round of dates concludes on November 23 in Louisville but their break is short — the band is once again heading out on tour in December.  The next round kicks off December 5 in Athens, GA and takes the band through the southern portion of the US through the start of February.    All current tour dates are listed below.

While on tour Those Darlins have also managed to record some stellar sessions including one while at The Voodoo festival for Spin and one for KDHX.

Blur The Line was recorded in Nashville, TN by Roger Moutenot (Yo La Tengo, John Cale, Jeff the Brotherhood).   The album’s 12 songs are burnished by experience and served up raw, it is an album of bonds both broken and true, romantic and familial, cultural and personal. Blur the Line broaches pain, loneliness and memory with, alternately, cynicism and curiosity–it is the work of two songwriters digging deeply, fearlessly in order to get at the true guts of their art.

Since starting out as trashy, fun-loving cowpunks, the twogirl/two-guy Murfreesboro, Tennessee, (Those Darlins) has gone further toward gnarled garage rock with each album. Some of the Darlins’ loose sense of humor has been lost along the way, but it’s been replaced by a seductive bite that goes well with their lupine guitar ooze. “Western Sky,” a rejection of “civilized noise,” adds another wrinkle to their sound: shambling Meat Puppets-like prettiness that stretches out beyond the red-rock horizon.

Rolling Stone  3.5 stars

“Tough and Seductive” – Spin

“Blur The Line is an important statement for Those Darlins…Blur The Line contains all the familiar Darlin’ hallmarks, with songs ranging from Ramones-style punk to raw country rock to Spectorish ’60s girl group vibes. And some of the songs have a distinctly Velvet Underground vibe to them.”   American Songwriter 

A much more ambitious and diverse release than anything we’ve heard from Those Darlins”  Nashville Scene

“Encompassing garage-rock, low-rent country, and girl-group pop…Those Darlins’ fizzy twang ‘n’ crunch guarantees an exhilarating time throughout.”   Mother Jones  

“Those Darlins’ sound is sharp and raw, and Zazu’s vocals are as distinctive as those of Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O and The Dead Weather’s Alison Mosshart.”  My Spilt Milk