A few months ago, we partnered with Atlanta-via-Brooklyn’s Already Dead Tapes for the premiere of Brightest Night to Memory’s self-titled debut. Since Left Bank is all about family, we were beyond psyched when Victoria Blade – musician and actress extraordinaire and co-mastermind of Already Dead Tapes, along with her husband, Josh – shared her latest single, “I Don’t Wanna Worry,” with us.
Lauded as a “modern folk masterpiece,” Victoria blends classically trained, jazzy vocals with the warmth of lo-fi fuzz. Before the ukelele even begins playing, the subdued hiss of the track creates an ambiance of weightless, worry-free bliss, while Victoria’s clear voice and hopeful lyrics paint the picture of a slow, sunny Sunday afternoon. There’s no pretense to this track; it plays as effortlessly as Victoria sings, moving with the easy motion of a front porch swing.
“I Don’t Wanna Worry is a reminder that things will work out,” Victoria says. “As a freelance artist, it’s very easy to let the stress of the unknown overcome the joy of the present. Overthinking and overanalyzing are things I try and run away from. I’m always trying to remain thankful for the present moment, even while working for that next deadline or goal. It’s a very difficult thing to do. When I play this song, it feels possible.”
I don’t know about you, but there’s a part of me that feels like I’m always chasing something, or running away from something. “I Don’t Wanna Worry” is a breath of fresh air, a bit of stillness in the madness, and a reminder that we can always come back to the present and find a little bit of good waiting for us.
Even better? “I Don’t Wanna Worry,” the first track off of her debut solo album Lo-Fi Love Songs, is premiering exclusively on Left Bank. The track is deliriously carefree and put me in such a peaceful, joyful mood that I couldn’t wait to hear more about Lo-Fi Love Songs before its release on May 31st. Victoria was more than happy to give us a few hints about the album:
“Lo-Fi Love Songs is collection of songs written about the winding road of an artist who has the privilege of being in love. I got married at a young age, which was a big surprise to me. It sort of came out of nowhere and has been a profound miracle in my life. Love found me and I almost had to catch up to it. I was lucky to learn at a young age what real love looked like – it hasn’t always been pretty. It’s messy and honest and good. These songs are saturated in that love, juxtaposed with the wandering, unpredictable journey of a freelance artist.”
I’m counting the days until the album drops, but until then, I’ll be playing “I Don’t Wanna Worry” on repeat (and trying to take it to heart!). Stream the brand new single here: