New Brooklyn-based indie music duo Sex Week, featuring the multifaceted talents of Richard Orofino and Pearl Dickson, hops into the scene with their debut single, Toad Mode, a quirky, playful and captivating.
Toad Mode is not your garden-variety love song. It’s a heartfelt yet whimsical ode to the kind of love that’s raw and a tad untamed – where being a little ‘feral’ is part of the charm. The song captures the essence of being so enamoured with someone that their mere presence can transform you and make you go ‘toad mode,’ if you will. It’s about the kind of connection that’s as silly and lighthearted as it is deep and entrancing, a balance not often struck in romantic music.
“She bites my hands / My arms my pants / She’s got big plans,” and “He’s on the prowl he’s evil / Waiting for the next fight / I hope his gut’s alright,“
The song paints a vivid picture of a love that’s playful and slightly wild, yet tender. The reference to Toad, the cat that serendipitously brought the duo together, adds a personal touch that’s both endearing and emblematic of the song’s theme.
Sonically, Toad Mode is a nod to the indie music of the early 2000s and ’90s, infused with a contemporary bedroom pop and lo-fi edge that’s all the rage. The production is eccentric and unconventional, much like the duo’s approach to their craft. The track is a blend of fuzzy guitars, laid-back rhythms, and vocals that alternate between a soothing purr and a rousing yowl.
Sex Week’s influences are worn proudly, with the spirit of Liz Phair and Sonic Youth lingering in the song’s DNA, yet there’s a freshness to it that’s undeniably current. The duo’s background is as eclectic as their sound—Orofino’s musical chops, honed through collaborations with notable artists and producers (Gabe Wax, Miya Folick, Teddy Geiger, and Francois Tetaz), meld seamlessly with Dickson’s artistic flair, shaped by her acting in shows such as Yellowjackets, Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville, Noah Hawley’s Lucy in the Sky, and FX’s Legion and directing endeavours.
As a debut single, Toad Mode sets the bar high for Sex Week. It’s a song that’s bound to resonate with anyone who’s ever found comfort in the arms of another, to the point of feeling a little wild, a little ‘toad mode.’ With this track, Sex Week has not just jumped into the fray – they’ve landed with a splash.