It doesn’t take a deep dive to start hearing LA-based musician, dancer, and actor Andrea Adolph’s personality coming out through her indie-pop project Bambina. Long before the release of her latest single, “Boys Who Run” and her LA show alongside singer/producer WTRGRL and DJ/musician Shana Sarett at Zebulon on Jan. 31, her steady output of singles has seen her carve a pathway defined by witty lyrics and a distinct sense of humor.
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The best example of her humor is within the music video for “Anyway U Want It,” where she hilariously acts out sex positions in a virtual reality game, eventually growing bored and going about her day. That level of lovable absurdity carries throughout everything she does, whether it’s the songs themselves or back-and-forth interactions with dancers on stage.
“Boys Who Run,” a played-straight duet featuring electronic project Baths, is a departure for Bambina, showing a vulnerable side of Adolph without losing the bouncy indie-pop gleam heard in other singles.
Opening to the sound of crunchy drums consistent throughout, “Boys Who Run” is a noticeable change of pace that embraces a more downbeat mood. The gentleness in Adolph and Baths’ vocals reaffirms the introspective atmosphere, culminating when Adolph admits, “I can’t go for that” in the piano-led chorus.
Compared to past songs, “Boys Who Run” proves a willingness to step outside what’s expected of Bambina. But that doesn’t mean she had a broken formula beforehand. “Daylight,” as well as other songs off her Soft Heat EP, subscribe to a brighter outlook and are more in line with Bambina’s catalog thus far. The synths layered atop the dance beat give “Daylight” an added shine while Adolph sounds radio-ready the way she effortlessly glides over the production.
Apart from singing and writing on all her songs, Adolph also co-directs most of her music videos, which often follow narratives thought out by herself. Like the aforementioned “Anyway U Want It” video, the visuals for “Things I’ll Never Say” take on a whole different style, best described as a period piece daydream fitting for the song’s dream-pop sound.
In other words, Bambina is an effective extension of Adolph, who doesn’t seem to be held back from pushing the needle on indie-pop and trying new ideas with flying colors.
Words: David Sosa
“Boys Who Run” by Bambina is out on streaming services. For more on new music and live shows, including tickets to her LA show at Zebulon on Jan. 31, follow her on Instagram and Bandcamp.
