She’s So Rad have come a long way since forming in Auckland, New Zealand, three years ago. On 2013’s Last Dance EP the band took a surprising detour from the grunge-indebted squall of debut record Circles, finding inspiration in the rubbery bass lines and slick synths of ‘80s disco and boogie. Now She’s So Rad have set their sights even higher, putting the focus on forward-thinking production for the upcoming album.
The band’s brand new single ‘Levels’ combines the shoegaze atmospherics that originally brought the band together with the energy and pulse of the dance floor. With mastering from Dave Cooley (Silversun Pickups), ‘Levels’ is future-oriented dream pop, pulled off in the emphatic style of M83 or Phoenix.
The video for ‘Levels’ – shot in HD by Liam Bachler, who’s known for his work with Unknown Mortal Orchestra – features NZ Skater of the Year, Christian Low, ripping up sidewalks in Melbourne’s Southbank and CBD. The clip’s a nod to the band’s first, lo-fi skate vid that accompanied the earlier, grittier single ‘Circles’, and a sign of just how far they plan to go.
