Under The Rug take a page from Sylvia Plath for their new single Mad Girl’s Love Song — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The lead single from the first part of the Austin indie outfit’s forthcoming album Happiness Is Easy, due Aug. 16, Mad Girl’s Love Song was inspired by the influential writer’s iconic work. “This song is an homage to Sylvia Plath’s eponymous villanelle, which I’ve always admired,” singer-guitarist Casey Dayan says. “I wanted to write something new from it, or inspired by it, without strictly using her language in a derivative way.
“Sylvia’s poem, to me, at least, feels like it’s about a character’s relationship to an imagined version of someone and the expectations that character superimposes onto them. The dissonance between those expectations and reality drives the character mad.”
While the original poem adheres to the strict and moody form of a villanelle, Under The Rug’s adaptation breaks free from this structure. “In our song, things had to move differently. The speaker is more concerned with the dissonance between who they are and how the expectations the ‘you’ might have of THEM. It feels true to me, as a trans person, who is often being interpreted on the internet.” This unique perspective adds a profound layer of meaning to the song, making it a poignant and powerful addition to Under The Rug’s discography. The track was co-written by Sam Hollander (Panic! At The Disco, Fitz And The Tantrums), produced by Under The Rug and engineered by David Peters.
Under The Rug’s Happiness Is Easy is a two-part, 30-track exploration of the challenges of pursuing happiness, delivered with the band’s signature irreverence, irony, and dark humor. Produced with the help of Peters, and featuring co-writers like Hollander and Mason Jennings, the record blends poignant personal themes with universal questions on life and fulfillment. Each song offers a tongue-in-cheek look into the headspace of lyricist Dayan. The release navigates topics such as self-discovery, authenticity, drug use, and loneliness while providing moments of levity and insight.
Dayan wrote the album as a reflection of coming to terms with identity and the pursuit of joy in a complicated world. “It’s the least fictional thing I’ve written,” she reveals. The album is filled with gentle arpeggios, evocative lyrics, and piercing guitar melodies that reveal the band’s growth and commitment to authenticity. It’s not just a meditation on personal struggles but also a search for meaning and connection in the modern age.”
Under The Rug have created a heartfelt musical journey over the past decade. Dayan, guitarist Sean Campbell and drummer Brendan McQueeney blend indie, folk, and Americana with a focus on storytelling. Known for their DIY marketing, they’ve built a dedicated fan base through handwritten letters and their membership service, The Secret Hideout. They’ve made waves with their LP Homesick For Another World, and their viral hit Lonesome And Mad.
Listen to Mad Girl’s Love Song and watch Under The Rug play it live in their living room above, hear more from the band below, and get swept up on their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
