P!lot - “Fake Hangover”
Photo: The Grilled Cheese
P!lot, based in Charleston, South Carolina, has just released the beautifully charming track, “Fake Hangover.”
“Fake Hangover” has a certain vibe to it, both in the musical textures and also in the vocal melodies that remind me of The Beach Boys during the eclectic “Smiley Smile” era. This makes it hard to place the song within a certain genre, as it straddles the same waters, containing elements of pop rock, with folk and psychedelic influences.
Firstly, the song has a quirky, experimental edge, thanks to the birdsong foley that is present across the track. This injects a pleasingly playful and serene quality throughout the composition. Dressing the track are some lush, nostalgic-tinged layers that evoke a feeling of innocence and simplicity.
Ukulele heightens the relaxed mood as it gently lends texture to the track’s rhythm. Rich organ pads and arpeggiating synth keys dreamily enhance the track. The drums and other percussive layers, such as shaker, gently push the composition forward as a warm-toned bass melodically weaves underneath. Elegant horns beautifully support the song’s atmospherics, filling the spaces left in the arrangement.
Vocally, “Fake Hangover” reminds me of the song, “Little Pad,” by The Beach Boys. The gentle, breathy delivery is wonderfully laid back and full of lush, warm harmonies. You almost want to relax and unwind to the harmonies as they wash over the listener.
On the track P!lot adds: “This song is about being a sensitive person in the world, and the beauty that music offers to life. I wrote it in 2018 on a trip to New Orleans, celebrating a friend’s birthday. I got into an argument with a friend of mine, and he accused me of having a fake hangover - feeling run down and out of it, but not having had a single cocktail. The truth was I had a real hangover at the time. But the premise lingered, and turned into this song.”
“Fake Hangover” is also the title of P!lot’s forthcoming album, set for release on the 22nd of November. The album is an exploration on the themes of femininity, felines, and fame.