Pterocat – Anti (2026)
While Pterocat began as a duo in 2018 with Thais Dahas and Colby Granger, the underlying inspiration and hidden ember found its way into Dahas’ soul much earlier. After relocating from Rio de Janeiro to Atlanta in 2016, Dahas drew on his experiences of migration and integration into a new culture and community to craft moving, insightful lyricism. A couple of years later, Granger joined, and Pterocat was formed. Skip ahead, and the current line-up includes drummer Sam Horwitz, bassist Deanna Harris, and keyboardist/guitarist Nathan Forsyth. The latest addition to their discography is the single, ‘Anti’.
Following the 2024 single, ‘American Business’, ‘Anti’ is Pterocat’s return to the streaming world and a pivot to something heavier, slightly darker, and definitely more chilling – in a good way. Produced by Dahas and Granger, with recording, mixing and mastering by Greg Hendler, ‘Anti’ stands firmly on old-school indie-rock ground, but with a hint of alternative rock wavering across the track. Harris’ bass boldly keeps time, while Sam Horwitz’s drums beat in the background. Forsyth and Dominic Cristiano’s percussion seems to twinkle with an alluring shine and clasps the sweeping guitars in its clutches.
Caressing, confident, and soothing, ‘Anti’ hints at The Cranberries with its mellifluous but haunting whimsy. Yet, while there’s a flowing, gentle side to the track, a darker vulnerability and melancholy hang in the air. ‘Anti’ oscillates between light and dark, smooth and rough, calm and uncertain, hopeful and desperate. The vocals are particularly intriguing as they embody the tenderness, but simultaneously an intricate web of fragility.
Melodically, ‘Anti’ is a soulful tune, yet it is the lyricism and theme that make it weighty. A song written as a “response to stifling perfectionism in the music/artistic creation processes… the most universal kind of judgement in someone’s head that could actually keep them from creating or sharing their art.”
So, what is my overall opinion of Pterocat and ‘Anti’? The single speaks to my enjoyment of The Cranberries and would be perfect for fans of old-school indie-rock and indie-pop. Taken from their upcoming album, Slow Blink, I am eager to hear more from this intriguing group.
Find out more about Pterocat on their Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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