Derek Simpson announces Signs LP and releases psychological chiller “Talking To Strangers” (Music Video) - (6/23/21)
Derek Simpson shares their new single and music video “Talking To Strangers,” available June 23rd on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve Records.
Long Beach bedroom-pop auteur Derek Simpson shares his latest song and video “Talking To Strangers” via Trailing Twelve Records. The piece follows a cohesive slate of groove-laden compositions from Simpson and comes with the announcement of his second full-length album, Signs, out August 4th, 2021.
“Talking To Strangers” is seductively minimal - largely employing a hypnotic loop of rhythm guitars, staccato bass, and confident percussion. Simpson elevates the hypnosis by shifting between a casual baritone and mischievous falsetto as he croons the main hook [Evenings on the phone / Talking to strangers / Keep meeting the ghosts / Talking to strangers]. We’re eventually gifted with one of Simpson’s signature groove sections - the drums and bass in a comfortable dialogue as Simpson’s vocal floats atop.
Exploring the anxiety of digital courtship, “Talking To Strangers” pulls inspiration from both Simpson’s personal experiences and pop culture. Simpson shared the following:
Inspired equally by dating apps, Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, and the title of Malcolm Gladwell’s most recent book, [Talking To Strangers] describes a specific paranoia in meeting others through the internet.
The weirdness of initially judging a person from photographs, the sending of playful messages only to be lost in translation, and the defeat of being left alone by the “ghosts” inform this track’s creeping guitar and nervous lyric, haunting the ear moments after ceasing like a whimper in a dark room.
Derek Simpson, taken from “Talking To Strangers” Official Music Video
The accompanying music video, edited by Simpson, borrows visual influence from the referenced psychological horror film, beginning with a stylized title sequence and score interpolation of the song’s main vocal melody. Throughout the video we find Simpson communicating to an unnamed entity through various psychedelic elements - TV static, a kaleidoscope, and a singular bright yellow chair. In the video’s climax, the entity (listed as Sheet Ghost in the video credits) leaps out of a video call and into Simpson’s world. Shock and terror turn into thrill and comfort, as Simpson and Sheet Ghost dance side by side.
Watch the music video for “Talking To Strangers” below, taken from the forthcoming album Signs - available on August 4th via Trailing Twelve through all DSPs, and presented on limited edition 12” vinyl.
Pre-order here.
Written by Derek Simpson
Produced by Derek Simpson and The White Electric
Performed, and Mixed by Derek Simpson (BMI)
Mastered by Vincent Mazza
© & ℗ 2021 Trailing Twelve Records. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Copying, Reproduction, Hiring, Lending, Public Performance, And Broadcasting Strictly Prohibited.
DEREK SIMPSON - Talking To Strangers
TTR-015
Released 23 June 2021
Length: 05:14
BIO
Derek Simpson is an artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist based out of Long Beach, California. Layering spacey guitar chords and electric piano lines with dense and introspective wordplay, Derek's music often explores the value of holding a positive perspective in the face of confusion or adversity.
Featured by Ones To Watch, Spin, Indie Shuffle, Atwood Magazine, Glide, and Dummy, Simpson’s respect for focus and hard work shows in his recordings - all of which are fully written, produced, composed, and mixed by himself.
Derek has produced music for Kevin Abstract, Dom McLennon, Rockie Fresh and more. His music has also been featured in Comedy Central's Workaholics.