Los Angeles-based rock quintent The Soft White Sixties recently released the video for their politically-charged song “Brick by Brick.”
The song boldly attacks the Mexican-American border controversy that arose after Trump made his border wall proposal. For lead singer Octavio Genera, a first generation Mexican-American, this is a major issue close to his heart.
“If you build a wall / we’re gonna tear it down / brick by brick,” he sings through the chorus.
Musically, “Brick by Brick” is a mix of retro-influenced synth and heavy-hitting guitar lines, all blending together as they’re led by Genera’s unwaveringly strong vocals.
The song unarguably finds its greatest strength in the real honesty of its political commentary. But content aside, it’s still a great song. It’s catchy, and there’s great contrast between the chorus and verses. From beginning to end, the song musically undergoes a transformation as it grows in depth and complexity.
The Soft White Sixties also recorded “Brick by Brick” in Spanish. “Piedra a Piedra,” released alongside its English counterpart, is the first of many planned Spanish versions of their songs.
Though Genera was unsure of what it would be like to sing in Spanish, he gave it a try on this song, and the results were undeniably beautiful.
“There was a feeling of joy and passion when I sang these songs in Spanish that I wasn’t expecting. And then hearing the songs back — it was right,” Genera states.
“Brick by Brick” is the first bilingual single from the band’s upcoming album, which will be entirely recorded in both English and Spanish.
The Soft White Sixties’ New Video Elevates Political Message
Aaron Eisenberg, guitarist The Soft White Sixties, created the perfect video to capture the passionate intentions of “Brick by Brick.”
It opens with various clips that exaggerate the idea of the “American dream.” The video sampled here comes from 1953’s Coronet Instructional Film “Who Are the People of America?” There’s a quick switch to images from the news and TV as the music kicks in.
The images correspond seamlessly with the song’s lyrics, adding the perfect visual to The Soft White Sixties’ message.
The Soft White Sixites held a vinyl release party, where proceeds benefited the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles, an organization that provides resources to immigrants.
Stay tuned for more bilingual tunes from the Soft White Sixties, and follow them on social media to keep up.