The track is taken from the bands forthcoming fourth studio album Screen Violence
Image: Sebastian Mlynarski & Kevin J Thomson
Scottish synth-pop trio CHVRCHES have unveiled their new single Good Girls, set to appear on their forthcoming fourth studio album Screen Violence. Bringing unapologetic lyricism and fiery vocals, the track comments on and dissects the misogynistic ideals placed upon women within society.
Speaking of the track, frontwoman Lauren Mayberry shares: “The opening line (killing your idols is a chore) was something I wrote after listening to some friends arguing about the present day implications of loving certain problematic male artists - I was struck by the lengths that people would go to in order to excuse their heroes and how that was so juxtaposed to my own experiences in the world. Women have to constantly justify their right to exist and negotiate for their own space. We're told that bad things don't happen to Good Girls. That if you curate yourself to fit the ideal - keep yourself small and safe and acceptable - you will be alright, and it's just not f**king true.”
Arriving alongside an official visual, the songs clip serves as the third part in an analogue-inspired trilogy, directed by multi-disciplinary artist Scott Kierna. The epic finale to the tale, the visual continues the lo-fi and nostalgic approach of its predecessors, with Kiernan sharing: “The video for ‘He Said She Said’ dealt with doubt in making of one's own image while under the manipulation of another; while ‘How Not to Drown’ sought an exit from a low, from feeling penned in by larger power structures, and refusing to succumb to them again. But ‘Good Girls’ portrays a certain learned confidence in knowing who and what you are, despite what others might conform to themselves. It's having a clear vision, or something like a compound eye that can see at all angles. So, like ‘How Not to Drown’ before it, ‘Good Girls’ continues down from a scene in the first video and steers it to a new parallel conclusion. Near the end, we find Lauren spiralling on the studio floor, surrounded by the crew and ghosts of the previous videos, as the entire image cycle finally comes to a halt.”
Screen Violence is out August 27. Watch the visual for Good Girls below.