New York City-based indie rock/pop musician and actor Rivkah Reyes shares her latest single, ‘Miss Congeniality’ – the soundtrack to our Friday.
Inspired by the film Miss Congeniality and drawn from real-life experience, Reyes explores the tension between authenticity and likeability with humour and a bitter edge.
“It’s like I’ve been shapeshifting into whatever version of myself feels the most likable in the moment. It’s that pageant energy of being everyone’s favorite but still not actually being chosen. I’m very aware of the pattern while it’s happening, which is where the humor and the sting come from.
Rivkah Reyes
It’s bratty, high-energy alt-pop with crunchy guitars and a bit of indie sleaze, polished on the surface but kind of unraveling underneath.It lives in that space between sweet and frustrated, like I’m holding it together but barely.”
The accompanying music video, shot at OutBox, a queer and trans boxing gym in Bushwick, was co-directed by Reyes and Katie Colwell and edited by Jill Blutt.
“I absolutely had to pay homage to Miss Congeniality because the song was so heavily inspired by it, and because I’ve loved that movie forever.
Rivkah Reyes
There’s something so special to me about the way Sandra Bullock plays this woman who’s trying to survive inside a version of femininity that doesn’t totally fit her naturally. I really connected to that. I liked the idea of taking this super glossy, hyperfeminine world and roughing it up a little. Busted lip, smeared makeup, sweat, chaos. That contrast felt really true to the song.”
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