Teri Gender Bender returns after Catspeak with a new EP called Outsiders to show us, once again, her strength.
We first discovered Teri when she launched, straight from Guadalajara city, the crazy antics of Le Butcherettes. Ever since the multi-instrumentalist has been impressing us with her rebellious performance, her open political discourse, and her dedication to the scene. Being a Latin American woman myself, the work she does to put forth this heritage is an inspiration and a source of pride.
Outsiders is composed of five tracks (and the bonus ‘Stranger’) ranging from some softer ballads like ‘Walk Into My Everything’ to the energy-fueled ‘What Do You Want Me To Do’. When asked about the meaning of this EP, Teri says:
“in the realm of nihilism, being an outsider is not a curse, but a profound revelation that the only meaning we find is the one we create for ourselves.”
This EP is exactly that, a story about creating your own meaning in a world that’s always trying to change you. This pressure is exposed from the start with ‘You Won the Man’, a song that deals with conforming to societal norms. The video that accompanies the song features Teri in tears (a nod perhaps to her video ‘Boise’) and in her own words,
“The tears I shed become the visual embodiment of the price paid, unveiling the paradoxical beauty found within the sadness that winning entails.”
After conforming, the inner turmoil grows and the unspoken price seems too heavy so she fights against it in ‘Sideways’. The progression and the perfectly paced entrance of every instrument and vocal are just amazing. My favourite song from this EP, and what an earworm! It’s like listening to a classical grunge anthem. The bass line, drums, and guitars are on point both to showcase her skills as a musician and to highlight the rising rage in the story. In the end, she realizes that she doesn’t need to conform anymore.
The EP ends with a silver lining and it represents very well Teri’s state of mind. As she said earlier this week, “I hope that whoever listens to my music feel that they are seen and not alone. Hopefully, it inspires them to feel sexy, to feel empowered. Hopefully, my music is also a tool for solitude’s comfort sake. You’ve gotta dream big too!”
Teri Gender Bender outdoes herself with Outsiders, both pulling out and repairing the heart.
Gracias totales, Teri!
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