Today, San Francisco via New York City indie rock artist lucky break shares a new version of “Head Down” joined by acclaimed musician Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole, Smashing Pumpkins) out now with a new music video.
The artist’s debut album, made it! is out now via Fire Records. Next month, lucky break will continue to tour across select U.S. cities, including tonight in Los Angeles and select dates with Nashville artist Maisy Owen.
“Head Down” is a bright and lush guitar-forward exploration of the illusion of innocence that allows one to look the other way and the desire for instant gratification. As a longtime Auf der Maur fan, lucky break says, “Melissa’s work has been such an important source of inspiration and influence for me, since my early childhood. Having her on this project is a tremendous honor. I look up to her in so many ways: for her artistry, her voice, and her fierce advocacy for justice. I am just exceptionally grateful for her support and so, so excited to have her on this version of the song.”
Auf der Maur is thrilled to join lucky break on the re-imagined version of the track, adding, “Emma’s whimsical commitment to discover the pure relationship between her voice, her words and her guitar, is reminiscent of my own generation of women, coming of age enveloped in sound.”
The simple, stop-motion accompanying video features lucky break’s signature, original illustrations, inspired by 2010s YouTube videos. The artist shares, “I drew a picture of Melissa and mailed it to her not too long ago — she had the idea of incorporating it into a video somehow. She sent a photo of the picture I’d mailed her and I used it to create some stop motion effects. This video is inspired by the “bullying story time” videos that girls used to do in the early days of the internet, which really entranced me when I was 11 or 12. These videos were one of the first major ways young women started talking about their mental health online, so I wanted to pay tribute to that moment in time and the effect it had on me.”
On the significance of the project, lucky break adds, “This whole project ties back to my early tween years in a really beautiful way — it marries my childhood obsession with Hole and grunge, as well as those strange corners for girls on the internet. It’s sort of about the dark feminine in that way, and — I suppose — the power that comes from that discovery in yourself. It feels really full circle and I am just so happy to have the opportunity to share it with others!”
In support of the original version, Clash Magazine wrote the track, “channels 90s indie pop bliss..’Head Down’ taps into the blossoming energies of Spring, a neat guitar pop ode that is wrapped in 90s sheen.” Vanyaland added, “Lucky break floats an alt ’90s disillusion on ‘Head Down..a hazy new alt-rock single..it feels like a time capsule, both visual and aural..”
KEXP wrote the debut record is“..a compelling set of introspective indie rock with tinges of folk and bedroom pop..’made it!’ features heart-on-her-sleeve, diaristic lyrics delivered through her emotive vocals and hook-filled arrangements, making for a deeply endearing debut.”
The debut project by lucky break began when the musician fell in love for the first time and moved abroad to teach English. After getting ghosted and getting sick, she was heartbroken and confined to her bedroom where eleven heartfelt tracks became her first proper collection of songs. Lucky break says, “‘made it!’ captures my life from 19 to 23 as I was going through major transitions, finding my inner compass and figuring out how to live in alignment with my values.”
Produced by Grammy-nominated engineer Jessica Thompson (Margo Guryan, X-Cetra, Erroll Garner) and with friend and co-producer Elliott Woodbridge, lucky break drew from the sounds of her childhood. The musician adds, “I solidified the sound of the record by blending everything I grew up listening to–from pop music and country music–and inspiration from 90s alternative indie like Pavement and Fiona Apple to Lucinda Williams, John Prine and Joni Mitchell found their way into the album as well.”
lucky break is a musical project that captures the vast range of emotions–joy, fear, sadness, hope and everything in between–that come with young adulthood. In addition to music, lucky break adds her own illustrations to all of her album and tour artwork, including a limited edition zine and sticker pack, as she crafts a vibrant, whimsical world that is solely her own.
‘made it!’ is out now. Available in Exclusive Bundle: Limited Edition LP, sticker pack, ‘zine and tote bag, Limited Edition Pink LP, Limited Edition Silver LP & CD.
TOUR DATES
Jul. 10 – Vinyl Tap, Nashville, TN*
Jul. 11 – Haven Haus, Memphis, TN*
Jul. 12 – Seasick Records, Birmingham, AL*
Jul. 14 – Golden Folk, Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC*
Jul. 15 – Horizon Records, Greenville, SC*
Jul. 16 – Old Records Off The Shelf, Four Oaks, NC*
Jul 17 – School Kids Records, Raleigh, NC*
Jul 18 – Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC*
*w/ Maisy Owen
