Known for her 2020 single “Vices,” reaching no. 2 on the Pop iTunes chart, MOTHICA is not shying away from sharing her most vulnerable moments with the world across mediums in latest single “Another High.”
Hailing from Oklahoma, studying illustration and graphic design in Brooklyn, New York, and then releasing her own projects out of Los Angeles, the dynamically creative artist has translated her music from audible to visual in some of her most inventive music videos. With the release of her third studio album, Kissing Death on August 23rd, the album’s third track was released and accompanied by a music video. This track marks the eighth single of the album, all of which are accompanied by visual media to appreciate her messaging through multiple senses, creating a visual journey across tracks.
The music video opens at the sight of the sun behind trees and soon follows MOTHICA as she walks down a street, singing into the camera. Soon, we see her sing out as she wanders in front of a series of beautifully colorful landscapes from across the world in wide shots. Often, she stands or walks in the center of frame, acting as the reference point for the perfect symmetry in the background. Eventually, as the lyrics take darker turns and the energy gets heavier, the world tilts on Dutch angles, a filmography technique used to achieve disorientation or unease for those watching. This is most likely used to capture the disorienting sentiments expressed in her lyrics. Finally, the video ends on the singer back on the street and walking out of frame, closing off the cycle in which she built.
In “Another High,” MOTHICA shares the bitter truth of her experiences with the cyclical nature of addiction:
“When I stop one habit, I find new vices to indulge in to keep my mind busy. Some are definitely healthier than others. And I always joke that I wish I was addicted to exercising and sunshine instead of the things that are bad for me.”
Through a vulnerable inner monologue, her lyrics capture the destructive devotion to a substance that drives her to a point of nihilistic despair. She touches on the “all-consuming” nature addiction has, and questions whether her temporary sedation is worth the chronic lows that follow: “I’m just looking for a way back down / something loud for me to drown the sound / a sweeter poison til I’m underground / …it’s all consuming to live in the moment.”
This pain is further reinforced with her excessive desire for her “sweeter poison” compared to a synthetic love ironically keeping her alive only to seek out the pain again for that repeated sedation: “how do you live when you / don’t wanna die anymore? / the crush the feelings rushing back / I recreate the love I lack / and when it doesn’t work out / do it all again.”
With such heartbreaking lyrics, MOTHICA’s deep register and heavier drums capture the weight of her emotions, and perhaps the higher tempo masks the alarming anguish depicted by her words, something symbolically representative of how one’s battle with addiction and mental ailments can go unnoticed.
With sharp basslines and a pulsating beat, synths and vocal distortions, the dark pop energy achieved in the new single captures the essence of MOTHICA’s overall sound and tone as established through her previous releases.
MOTHICA’s generous glimpse into her personal experiences with addiction is nothing to bat an eye to. Her compelling storytelling through audio and visual expression are worth experiencing. Luckily, her alt pop/rock fusion uplifting her warm voice are going on tour this fall across North America and Europe. You would not want to miss hearing “Another High” and Kissing Death live.
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