Courtney Barnett burns the trolls and highlights women’s anxiety
AUSTRALIAN reality rocker Courtney Barnett takes aim at online trolling and anxiety about women’s safety in the #metoo era on her new single Nameless, Faceless.
The single is the first taste of her much-anticipated second album Tell Me How You Really Feel, which will be released on May 18.
Written about a year ago, well before the Harvey Weinstein allegations surfaced and ushered in the #MeToo movement, the song’s chorus quotes from A Handmaid Tale’s author Margaret Atwood.
“I want to walk through the park in the dark, Men are scared that women will laugh at them, I want to walk through the park in the dark, Women are scared that men will kill them, I hold my keys between my fingers”.
The guitar anthem also references a creative burn aimed at the singer in a comments section as her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit conquered the world in 2015.
“I could eat a bowl of alphabet soup and spit out better words than you,” she sings in Nameless, Faceless.
The laconic singer remains undeterred in the face of cyber hate, bravely offering an open text box on her website to allow fans to tell her how they really feel.
And while she is not naive enough to believe all the dialogue will be positive and insightful, Barnett said she believes it is an intriguing sociological experiment.
“I think it’s an interesting experiment in that sense, we talk about how toxic and negative that space can be but I just have faith that there’s a whole lot more positivity and love in people than that ... Maybe I’ll be totally wrong but it’s a fun experiment for me if nothing else,” she told Triple J.
Barnett’s witty blend of alternative rock and laconic lyrics about her life won hearts around the world thanks to songs including Avant Gardener, Pedestrian At Best, Depreston and Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party.
She cleaned up at the 2015 ARIA Awards and also scored a Grammys and Brits nomination.
Barnett will release the album through her own independent Milk! Records which she founded with partner Jen Cloher.
Tell Me How You Really Feel tracklisting
1. Hopefulessness
2. City Looks Pretty
3. Charity
4. Need A Little Time
5. Nameless, Faceless
6. I’m Not Your Mother, I’m Not Your Bitch
7. Crippling Self Doubt And A General Lack Of Self Confidence
8. Help Your Self
9. Walkin’ On Eggshells
10. Sunday Roast
