New Music: Velatine – We’re Not Suburban

Industrial trip-hop that perfectly embodies the downside of urban living, We’re Not Suburban nevertheless contains some surprises.

Velatine, comprising Loki Lockwood and Holly Purnell, bring a southern gothic energy to bear on the song, moreso given that the vocals invite comparisons with Nick Cave and PJ Harvey, respectively.

The lyrics flip suburban horror tropes into reverse, where the neat gardens and an obsession with sports present unknown threats to those whose different tastes and lifestyles attract their attention.

The origins of the song, in fact, lie in Lockwood’s suburban youth. “My taste in music [postpunk / goth] was seen as weird, yet I wanted to be like the weirdos who made that music,” he says.

“Even though I went to music school, I was never much good at that either in the eyes of education; they wanted mastery. These bands moved technical proficiency out of the way, put emotion at the front and made anything possible. That set me on the path to today.”

“So, if one baby bat who feels isolated ‘out there’ hears this song and it affects them enough to follow their creative dreams, I’m dying happy.”

You can download We’re Not Suburban on Bandcamp, and the track can be streamed on Spotify and YouTube. For band news and more listening alternatives, follow Velatine on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.