Steve Lacy recently made waves by snagging the cover of Rolling Stone’s latest issue. The accompanying cover story was revelatory for many reasons, including comments about his sexuality and the potential arrival of a new album from him and his bandmates in The Internet. But perhaps the biggest news to come from the interview is that Oh Yeah?, the follow-up to his GRAMMY-winning album Gemini Rights, is coming in the near future. And while he continues to work on the project, he’s tiding us over with the release of lead single “Nice Shoes.”
Self-written and self-produced, “Nice Shoes” builds upon the indie rock-tinged R&B of Gemini Rights, adding an element of electronica in the mix thanks to quick-paced programmed drums, fuzzy, distorted elements and a whistling synth that propels the song forward. Meanwhile, Steve is sorting out complex feelings around lust, loneliness and life on the song.
The verses are straight and to the point in communicating his thoughts as he alternates between speaking and singing. “If I, if I had a dollar for the friends I would f**k / I could buy a pair of really nice shoes / Life is but a stain, it’s not a tattoo / Temporary pain, it’s lame to chase youth,” he sings on the opening verse. Later, on the song’s bridge, he alludes to wanting to let it all go, singing, “I truly think if there was ever a time to let it out, it would be now / Let down your guard and be honest enough to let it out, I’m in your world.” However, the song’s chorus is Steve simply repeating “make it stop” ad infinitum, showing that this all might be a cycle he’s currently unable to break.
Though the singer-songwriter spilled on the Oh Yeah? in the Rolling Stone interview, he was tight-lipped about when we could realistically hear the project in full. Still, based on “Nice Shoes” alone, it’s all shaping up to be quite the interesting outing.
Listen to “Nice Shoes” and watch its creative lyric video right here. Then keep watching to get even more up close and personal with Steve Lacy in a special interview filmed in Paris and released by Rolling Stone.
