Sibling Indie-Punk Trio LOKI’S FOLLY Leaves Toxic Situations Behind In “Don’t Come Back” Video
“Loki’s Folly Is the Gen Z Grunge Band You Need to Be Paying Attention To.” – Teen Vogue
“Minneapolis indie-punk sibling trio Loki’s Folly are whimsically tackling government corruption in their catchy new single ‘Beaches and Peaches.’ The band examines the state of the world and its impending implosion while frenetic instrumentals build and pile up. After taking listeners on a journey through howling choruses and humorous cynicism, the song takes a brief reprieve and revisits the song’s hook, this time through a slow and swaying, tension-filled lens.” – Ones To Watch
“With such wide ranging influences, it’s no surprise that the trio’s angular, energetic sound is hard to pin down, but it’s all driven by pure punk angst, stylish indie abandon, and a flare for unconventional song structure. Lyrically, the band unflinchingly tackles pressing and personal topics including Annie’s autism (“Appease The Girl”), bullying (“The Love Song”), casual sexism (“No Right”), and fear of an uncertain future (“Beaches and Peaches”). It’s a compelling combination that makes Loki’s Folly one of the most unexpected and inspiring releases so far in 2023.” – The Big Takeover
Contents
Indie-Punk (Sibling) Trio
Loki’s Folly
Leaves Toxic Situations Behind In
“Don’t Come Back” Video
Premieres With Punknews
Band’s Magnetizing Debut Album Sisu Out Now
Performing at Minneapolis’ Aster Cafe on May 11
MAY 9, 2023 [Minneapolis, MN] — “’Don’t Come Back‘ is a song about escaping a toxic situation or relationship, particularly one that you didn’t realize was bad until you’ve gotten out of it,” says Annie Kuchenmeister (age 22, guitarist and singer) of indie-punk sibling band LOKI’S FOLLY of their new music video, which is out today on Kitten Robot Records. “The despondent and vacant first verses and choruses are countered by the satisfaction of freedom and safety in the bridge and final chorus,” she adds.
Similar to the juxtaposition of the music and lyrical themes themselves, Annie (dressed up as a ghost) portrays the “toxic situation” in question in the new video clip, repeatedly pulling others in and then pushing them away (supporting cast played by her siblings: Nissa: age 17, drummer and singer; and Oskar: age 12, bassist and singer). Following the release of their high-spirited “Beaches and Peaches” video – which the band explained to Teen Vogue was chosen “exactly for its silliness” and that they “refuse to grow up any faster than absolutely necessary” in a world demanding too much from its youth – the release of their new video shines a light on a more serious, deliberately punky side of the band’s debut album (Sisu – out now).
For their upcoming show at Aster Cafe in Minneapolis (125 SE Main St, Minneapolis, MN 55414) on Thursday, May 11, Loki’s Folly will be performing album tracks such as “The Love Song” (decreeing the toll that bullying has on someone), the high-octane “No Right” (which documents the frustration for the casual injustices women face every day), and the fuzzed-out “Appease the Girl,” which features Soul Asylum‘s Dave Pirner on guitar and is a song Annie wrote about navigating the world as an autistic person. “The song itself is a song I wrote describing the autistic meltdowns I would have in school and the lack of response or care from the adults at the school in that situation,” she explained.
Photo credit: Mika Larson
What The Press Is Saying:
“Loki’s Folly play this odd and unique style of indie rock. Their new single, ‘Beaches and Peaches,’ has this playful and quirky quality that isn’t quite like anything you’ve heard before. I’m going to attribute how unique the song is to their ages. Not because they haven’t learned how play music, but more because they haven’t learned how not to play. It’s such an odd but fun arrangement of music. If I have to compare Loki’s Folly to anyone, I would say it’s a mash up of Jonathan Richman, Beat Happening, and The Shaggs.”- If It’s Too Loud
“‘Beaches and Peaches’ is instantly catchy, full of classic punk grievances like the corruption of “everything” and the punctuation of each verse line with a primal howl. The breakdown has twinkling bells and a well-timed slide whistle. Loki’s Folly are fully realized out the gates with a sound that is original and urgent. Their personalities are engrained in the notes.” – The Luna Collective
“The album Sisu is a real mix of styles combining the anger and attitude of riot grrrl with the fuzzy instrumentation of 90s indie and a good dose of punk rock energy. The tracks are a collated history of the band- songs that have been written at various points along their journey to honing their style and sound. As a result, there’s a juxtaposition between more playground, sing-a-long jaunty tracks and their heavier, more sophisticated counterparts which makes for one very eclectic album.” – Punktuation! Magazine
“There is something undeniably pure in sound and spirit in the music of Loki’s Folly. From the jolly, perfectly imperfect harmonizing, to the bouncy drum beat and jangly guitars, to lyrics like ‘I’m sitting on the beaches, eating peaches, the government is corrupt,’ you can’t listen to this track and not smile. Coming in at under two minutes, Loki’s Folly are aiming for the title of the Next Great Garage Band, and they may already have my vote.” – The Indy Review
Since the songs on their debut album are a culmination of work done throughout their childhood (some of the songs for Sisu were originally recorded around 2017, with the rest from 2019 and on), Annie says it has been an amazing experience “growing up” alongside the album.
“Most of our inspiration came from personal experiences in our childhood and teen years since that is when we were writing the songs, as well as from movies, TV shows, books, and comic books that we were reading at the time.” She also adds that most of the songs on the album have very personal connections and portray a lot of the things they find “difficult to communicate.”
Sisu Album Artwork
1. “The Love Song”
2. “Castle On The Moon”
3. “Truth Or Dare:
4. “Appease The Girl”
5. “Little Mermaid”
6. “Poison Heart”
7. “Don’t Come Back”
8. “Hiding In Plain Sight”
9. “Into The Darkness”
10. “Trickster”
11. “No Right”
12. “Beaches and Peaches”
The band recorded Sisu at a few different places, starting off at Flowers Studio recording three songs with Ryan Smith and Ed Ackerson (Motion City Soundtrack, The Replacements, The Jayhawks) shortly before he passed. The trio recalls their time working with Ackerson as, “One of the most amazing experiences in the world.” They then spent a day at IPR and recorded eight more songs with Kevin Bowe (Paul Westerberg and the Replacements) and Smith. They also recorded “The Little Mermaid” in their basement with their cousin Russell Mark while he was visiting from Los Angeles.
It was during the pandemic lockdowns – when Annie and Nissa were working with Smith at his home studio (The Flight Simulator) doing the overdubs and mixing – that the sisters added their little brother, Oskar, onto the recordings playing bass guitar. “After having learned the instrument to join the band there is nothing more fun than seeing that happen and getting to hear him on the album,” Annie says joyously.
The band also had the opportunity to work with John Fields (Pink, Miley Cyrus, Andrew W.K., and Demi Lovato) who helped them find ways to work creatively while doing all the mixing remotely during the pandemic.
Loki’s Folly’s video for “Don’t Come Back” is out now. The debut album Sisu is also now available on all platforms via Kitten Robot Records.
“Don’t Come Back” Lyrics:
You try to come back
You can’t come back
Please don’t ever come back
This is not your home
‘Cause if you stay I guess I’ll live
But when you leave I won’t resist
Finally I’ll be free from all and all of your treachery
I need you more
Than I need myself
If you think that then
You’re lying to yourself
Just go away so I can be myself
‘Cause if you stay I guess I’ll live
But when you leave I won’t resist
Finally I’ll be free from all and all of your treachery
Run away hey
Run away hey
Run away hey
Run away
Now you’re gone and I can live
You can leave and you won’t be missed
Finally I am free from all and all of your treachery
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