Ruth Radelet - “Shoot Me Down”

Photos by Ian Laidlaw

We are pleased to feature the shoegaze/ dream-pop sounds of Los Angeles-based Ruth Radelet and her brand new tune, “Shoot Me Down.”

Pressing play results in the sound of a guitar that has been coated with a sheen of sparkling delay. The lo-fi soundscape rises until it bursts into a steady rhythm, with Radelet’s vocal shortly following. Upon hearing her voice and the way that it is ever so slightly reminiscent of both Blondie and Sharon Van Etten, we simply could not resist writing a couple paragraphs about it.

Radelet offers listeners a tale of heartache that ironically makes us feel better about life. There is nothing quite like being in complete agony, hearing a song that reflects your turmoil, and then coming out the other end on the road to recovery. The upper register of her vocal on the refrain only adds to the healing power of “Shoot Me Down,” and we anticipate it fitting quite nicely in the playlists you deploy after a relationship falls apart.

Part of the appeal here is the nod to disco, which is engrained in the underbelly of the track. The rhythm is relentless and the middle eight bears a much welcomed shift in dynamics, leaving “Shoot Me Down” perfect for many occasions, including seeing it live:

10/21 - Portland, OR @ Lollipop Shoppe w/ Silver Triplets of the Rio Hondo

10/22 - Tacoma, WA @ ALMA w/ STRFKR

10/23 - Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios w/ STRFKR - *SOLD OUT*

10/24 - Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater w/ STRFKR

10/25 - Chico, CA @ Sierra Nevada Brewery w/ STRFKR

10/26 - San Luis Obispo, CA @ Fremont Theater w/ STRFKR

10/27 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy w/ STRFKR - *SOLD OUT*

10/29 - Pomona, CA @ Glass House w/ STRFKR

10/31 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall w/ Agar Agar

-HD