There is something unusual about Sirena. While it retains the collective energy that has defined Downtown Boys for over a decade, the track is driven by a different force: memory.
Since their inception, this Providence-based band has been crafting a unique punk style that defies easy classification. Their music is bilingual, danceable and rebellious, with the saxophone at its core, and a political edge that is inseparable from it. But here they do something different. “Sirena” is inspired by “Gema” by Los Dandys, one of Victoria Marie’s grandmother’s favourite songs, and that legacy runs through the entire song. It is neither a posthumous tribute nor a conventional song of mourning, but rather a bridge between generations. La Gema (the gem), the light, the jewel: that which passes from one generation to the next and guides the way.
Musically, the track moves away from the more in-your-face hardcore sound of their previous releases. While the guitar riffs and drums retain the raw energy that has always set Downtown Boys apart, the harmonies create a hypnotic, almost circular feel that is reminiscent of an invocation rather than a protest song. Echoes of the Mexican bolero tradition that inspired the composition are evident, albeit filtered through the band’s own style. Victoria Marie delivers her lines with slightly less intensity than on other tracks, and there is more melody and body. That emotional tension, which builds progressively, serves to cement the connection between their usual political drive and a reflection on memory, cultural heritage, and spirituality.
Here, language is a powerful symbol of belonging. This concept is also reflected in a video by Sarah Elawad, a visual artist who frequently explores themes such as memory, archiving and resistance.
Public Luxury will be released on 26 June via Sub Pop. Building on the defiant spirit of “No Me Jodas” and “You’re a Ghost”, “Sirena” demonstrates how memories can illuminate the present.
Tour dates:
Tue. Jun. 23 – Hamden, CT – Space Ballroom*
Wed. Jun. 24 – Holyoke, MA – Holyoke Media^
Thu. Jun. 25 – Woodstock, NY – Bearsville Theater*
Sat. Jun. 27 – Portland, ME – State Theater*
Sun. Jun. 28 – East Greenwich, RI – Odeum*
Wed. Jul. 15 – Columbus, OH – Spacebar #
Thu. Jul. 16 – Detroit, MI – Third Man Records #
Sat. Jul. 18 – Cleveland, OH – Happy Dog #
Sun. Jul. 19 – Pittsburgh, PA – Bottlerocket Social Hall #
Tue. Jul. 21 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s #
Wed. Jul. 22 – Washington, DC – DC9 Nightclub #
Thu. Jul. 23 – Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right %
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