Be it exploring the therapeutic value of self-deprecation (hatemail), the prospect of extraterrestrial life (‘Aliens‘) or broadening the audience’s herpetological knowledge (snake facts), Katie McTigue’s Pacing is a project which always looks to push the themes and purpose of its anti-folk songs. Even going so far as to set up web project anxiety.place for listeners to submit their deepest insecurities anonymously, which became part of the video for single ‘Who has ADHD now lol?’ What emerges follows in the playful, tongue-in-cheek tradition of the likes of Kimya Dawson, yet always nudges the ideas further to be more than mere twee humour or sardonic fun.
This autumn, Pacing returns with their second full-length album, this time via Totally Real Records, and the choice of label proves strangely fitting. “I think the obvious theme of this record is ‘What is real?’ McTigue explains. “‘Real’ is a word people throw around a lot, like ‘real food’ or ‘that’s so real’. I like thinking about stuff like ‘what counts as real art?’ I don’t think of myself as a Real Musician because, well, I’m just obviously not one. I think of myself as more of a Person With Some Stuff to Say.”
“Real poetry is always about plants and birds and trees,” McTigue sings on lead single ‘Bite Me’, another definition of ‘real’ she goes on to challenge across the track. A song which contrasts the organic and digital planes of existence, blurring the line between the real and unreal while pointing to the latter’s insidious creep. “Real trees don’t grow in my yard but I’m moving from the East / To where the Apple stores are plenty and there’s a crack in my screen.”
But worse is the suggestion that we’re all on such a flight path, however metaphorically. McTigue’s tone finds the perfect balance of impishness, promise and melancholy as she slowly reveals our lack of say in the matter. For these days, time spent amid the birds and trees is a frivolous activity favoured by poets and malingerers. Real Life™ now exists only behind a screen.
‘Bite Me’ is out now and available from the Pacing Bandcamp page.
Photo by Hali Tauxe