Vancouver alt-pop group Blonde Diamond shed light on abusive relationships with their new single ‘Red Flags’ out today on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.
The 2nd single from their debut full-length (out in 2022), ‘Red Flags’ reads like a cautionary tale, a retrospective of moments leading up to the realization that a seemingly fairytale romance has slowly evolved into a dark and twisted, manipulative stronghold.
Inside the first few bars of the track, the group grabs you with all the hallmarks of their signature sound: energetic drums, sparkly keys, dreamy guitars, slinky bass, and intimate vocals. Lead vocalist Alexis Young says she wrote ‘Red Flags’ to help break the silence that so many people feel about speaking up about abusive relationships.
“Post the breakup of a very long relationship and at a particularly vulnerable moment in my life, through a chance encounter I found myself in a relationship that was—on its surface—everything that I was looking for,” says Alexis. “The romance, the infatuation, the lust. It was the type of affair that you only read about in books and see in films. However, the red flags had presented themselves from the get-go and I initially ignored them. I wanted to see the good in this person, and believe that I could be a strong and positive force in their life. When it finally got to the point that I allowed myself to accept that it was abusive and emotionally manipulative, I felt stupid and ashamed that I could be so naïve and easily coerced into such a spiral of entrapment and darkness. I wanted to write this song not just as a form of healing for my own experience, but also as a message to others that you CAN walk away. That you’re not alone. And that it’s easy to get swept up and lose perspective when you’re in the eye of the storm.”
Shaping a soundscape of dreamy synth-pop bliss with unapologetic and captivating lyricism, Blonde Diamond has been on a trajectory that is hard not to be dazzled by. The band has graced stages across Canada, Europe, Australia, the US, and India, sharing bills along the way with stalwarts such as Portugal. The Man, Broken Social Scene, Bishop Briggs, Chromeo, Mother Mother, and more.
Blonde Diamond’s newest offerings hone in on their strongest assets—frontwoman Alexis Young’s vocal prowess, reinforced by the band’s ethereal instrumentals. Since their inception in 2016, Blonde Diamond has made waves in musical realms across the world. The group’s eagerly awaited full-length debut record is expected in 2022.
‘Red Flags’ is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide.
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