Before even listening to their latest track, I knew I was going to like Saint Marilyn. I’ve mentioned before that mixed gender groups like Oh Wonder, Beach House, Broods, and Matt & Kim are responsible for some of my favorite sounds, and this analog synth pop duo from Brooklyn fits that exact profile.
Vocalist and drummer Che Houston and bassist/keyboardist Kevin Marksson debuted their dreamy collaborative sound on the 2015 EP Shoshone. After sprinkling 2016 with a couple singles, they’ve opened the new year with a remix.
Saint Marilyn Slows Things Down
The duo premiered the “Frustrate Me” remix – a new take on their 2016 single – on The 405 in early January. Remixed by one half of the dark electronic duo ERAAS, Austin Conrad, the song actually slows the tempo down, trading in traditional bass drops for warm, hazy synths.
After first listen, I had to hear the original version as well to get a clearer take on the lyrics. Houston’s already airy vocals are extra echo-y in the remix, as she choppily laments, “I don’t have the time for you / to say you’re sorry / and every little thing you do breaks my heart / I don’t know how I can stay brokenhearted.”
Despite the darker tone, the song would surely take on a different vibe at a show – the band mixes in live percussion and bass into their performances, reminding me a lot of Bayonne banging away on drums during his show at Baby’s All Right.
If you’re in the NYC area, you can see for yourself next week when the band plays an Indie Shuffle show at Our Wicked Lady in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. On February 4, they’ll take the stage with The Undercover Dream Lovers and Violet Sands.
You can learn more about Saint Marilyn and their music on their Facebook page.
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