Kristen Ford – Whiplash
Kristen Ford returns today with the bubbly and bittersweet indie rock cut “Whiplash”.
Delivered as a swift follow-up to the defiant trans-rights anthem “Wild Heart” (released June 9th), “Whiplash” similarly showcases Ford’s penchant for serving up accessible allegories that speak to deeper, and darker, realities.
On the face of it, “Whiplash” is a frustrated tale of negotiating love bombs and emotional landmines in doomed romantic relationships. In Ford’s hands though, “Whiplash” is also an expression of the conditionality and broken promises that underpin the American dream that was proffered in her youth. She explains, “How about being told if you play nice, go to college and get a degree, you get a career, a life, and a home only to be saddled with debt? Have those debts promised to be forgiven and then, whiplash, forget it. How about losing our rights to decide what we do with our own bodies? What’s next, our marriages? Our ability to travel? The American dream of my 20s is leaving me with whiplash in my 30s.”
Also released today is a fun and feisty visual that plays out the highs and lows of domestic bliss among the chaparral of the L.A. mountains. Ford tapped fellow Angeleno J.P. Reilly,who has previously honed his skills on videos for names including OK Go and Barenaked Ladies, to direct this outing. Exceptionally eagle-eyed Swifties may recognize the actual picket fences from Taylor’s “You Need To Calm Down”, as well as some props that nod to that particular video.
“Whiplash” is the latest indication of what is in store on Ford’s upcoming album, Pinto (out August 22nd via Righteous Babe Records).
As a cohesive statement alongside “Wild Heart”, the self-affirming “Here’s To You Kid (feat. Ani DiFranco)”, and the patriarchy-busting “White Man’s Dream”, these four singles showcase both Ford’s topical breadth as well as the trusted conspirators that have helped to bring this upcoming album to life. Whether it’s the songwriting and production chops lent by DiFranco and John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band, or the mastering touch of Randy Merrill (Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo), Pinto is an album that celebrates the artistic power of joined forces.
At its heart, Pinto is an album that embodies Ford’s belief that “the rulebook has been thrown out by the current administration, we can turn this disorder back on them and boldly create the world we want.” Or, as she puts it in her less guarded moments, “it’s time to be louder, be bigger, be brasher motherf*cker!”
Fans can now pre-order limited special album packages exclusively via Kickstarter. These perks include signed vinyl and limited edition prints.
June 28 – Sioux Falls, SD @ The Den
June 29 – Minneapolis, MN @ Twin Cities Pride
July 4 – Madison, WI @ National Women’s Music Festival
July 7 – Des Moines, IA @ Lefty’s Live Music
July 8 – Creve Coeur, MO @ Riviera
July 9 – Columbus, OH @ Natalie’s
July 10 – Chicago, IL @ UncommonGround Lakeview
July 11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Unitarian Church
July 12 – Binghamton, NY @ Atomic Tom’s
July 13 – Wellfeet, MA @ Greenwald Center
July 18 – Cambridge, MA @ The Burren Backroom
July 19 – Camden, CT @ Canteen
July 24 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
July 26 – Berkeley, CA @ The Starry Plough
July 31 – Appleton, WI @ Mile Of Music Festival
August 6 – Asheville, NC @ AyuPrana
August 7 – Nashville, TN @ The Five Spot
August 8 – Chattanooga, TN @ Redbud
August 10 – Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar
August 13 – Awendaw, SC @ Awendaw Green
August 16 – Saluda, SC @ The Purple Onion
August 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Escondite
August 30 – Juneau, AK @ Crystal Saloon
September 5 – Albany, CA @ Ivy Room
September 19 – Blue Lake, CA @ Blue Lake Casino
September 27 – Portland, OR @ Al’s Den
October 5 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Hotel Café
#kristenfordmusic