MXMS latest single “Gravedigger” is a dizzying high wire act. A sonic Ghost Rider if you will, living in a world between worlds. It is our pleasure and honor here at We Are: The Guard to release this stunning track.
Part exploration of past and present battles with mental illness and addiction, part triumphant rallying cry for overcoming trauma, “Gravedigger” offers something for everyone in a tidy, 210 seconds.
The track begins with some ominous synths and slow building drums before a sharp rebuke to “stay the fuck away from me” and a primal scream announces the song’s true beginning. From there lead singer Ariel Levitan stakes her claim as a gravedigger (which, apparently, is still a job that exists) followed by a disorienting sonic pulse. Like the song itself, Ariel’s vocals move between lush harmonic melodies to cautious threats. Her voice is perfectly accented by Jeremy Dawson’s electronic fuzz and piano beat. They’re chemistry and synchronization are undeniable.
It’s a fantastic and fun song taken at face value, but there’s a lot more depth here than on your average pop number.
MXMS - GRAVEDIGGER
In general, pop music is used as a vehicle for fleeting escapism, while songs that address weightier subjects are usually left to singer-songwriters and hip hop tracks with jazz-based backbeats. But MXMS (short for Me and My Shadow) are not on to be pigeonholed or conform to norms. For them the monsters are very real and the abyss is a current state of reality. “Gravedigger” is a sort of field notes, detailing the toxic nature of modernity while also showcasing how to reclaim power of your own life.
There’s a true darkness to MXMS music, and a song in which they repeatedly refer to themselves as Gravediggers is no exception. However if you’re new to the music of this fantastic duo, be assured they’re more Boondock Saint than Supervillain. The San Fernando Valley-based crew told us this song is both a “winter cry of sexual freedom and a macabre warning,” which is as apt a description of the proceedings here as you will find.
In closing, let’s taken a moment to appreciate how “Everyone wants pretty girls they say, no one knows pretty girl makes graves,” is both a tremendous The Smiths’ reference and a warning to future ill-suited lovers.
There’s still plenty of room left on MXMS bandwagon. Grab your seat now while there’s still some available.
Also be sure to check out the band’s Instagram account for a special “Gravedigger” treat.
“Gravedigger” by MXMS is available now
Brought to you by We Are: The Guard.