(WATCH) Jersey Rock Video of the Week: Rachel Ana Dobken “Cruel, Cruel, Cruel”
Rachel Ana Dobken just released a fierce new single. “Cruel, Cruel, Cruel” is an expressive track drawn from emotion and experience. RAD not only wrote the song but also sang and played guitar and drums. It was produced by Erik Romero of The Front Bottoms. According to Rachel, the tune came to her one day while sifting through the rubble of a former romance. She said:
“Cruel, Cruel, Cruel is about the frustrations in knowing that you and a certain someone love each another, but the other person has decided to shut you out. I was going through a break-up in which this was the case and one day while dealing with said situation, I was showering and heard the hook as a complete melodic/lyrical thought.”
She continued:
“‘Cruel, Cruel, Crueeeel, the way you looove to disappoint me.’ Then in the next breath, the verse/chorus. The groove in particular is punk rock, but it’s swung with a VERY specific pocket (as I am very intentional about this in all my songs). Dan Haase (bass) added to this with his particularly groovy bass-lines. I always heard these searing Thin Lizzy-eqsue guitarmonies on the chorus and with Erik Rudic’s (guitar) collaboration we were able to get that beautifully. Romero and I were very intentional on the song’s tones, including thick, (slightly thrashy) drum sounds, and ripping / spooky delay drenched guitars which lean into the slight-left-of-center-a-tonal nature of the verse leading to the big pay off of the chorus (so catchy)! “
You can find “Cruel, Cruel, Cruel” on all streaming platforms. Check out your options HERE.
The video for “Cruel, Cruel, Cruel” was directed by: Nick Wolf of Howl Peak Productions with help from Pete Carter and Allie Leavy. It was edited by Nick Wolf and Rachel Ana Dobken. Shot on location at the Long Branch skate park, it looks as good as it sounds. Speaking on the video RAD said:
Well, I always had loved the concept of shooting this song at a skate park for multiple reasons. One, I felt it really fit the melodic and fast-paced energy of the song. And two, I grew up surrounded by surfing and skating near Asbury Park and it has always been something that inspired me. We got lucky and shot this on a perfect day. The location mixed with Nick’s magic touch leave you wondering where we are, and I love that ambiguity (plus it greatly represents the authentic beauty that is Coastal NJ). There is a warmth and nostalgic excitement evocative of summertime daydreams. I wanted to get in there and rip it up (both with skaters and playing)!!! Hope you enjoy!
You can catch RAD at Sleepwalk in New York City on Friday October 27. Tickets are available HERE.
Stay on top of everything Rachel is doing at rachelanadobken.com.
Check out the video for “Cruel, Cruel, Cruel”!
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