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Mouth Shut

from Tantrum by dilettante

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about

This track is about a few things, namely: feeling unable to speak on certain topics but also feeling as though it's wrong to stay silent, and also about growing up and watching other women in the music industry and considering the ways in which it is both easier and harder to be a musician nowadays than it has been in the past.

‘Mouth Shut' was one of the first tracks I wrote almost entirely using a loop pedal and spent about a year being called 'Nu Loopa' on all our setlists. It’s about feeling at a loss in conversations of social justice/injustice and considering what is best to do/not do. I think it's really important that people have nuanced conversations on such things but that rarely happens (especially online) on either side of the political spectrum and this song is basically about trying not to make things worse, which often only comes from shutting up and listening to experts.

It's also loosely about finding a video of Annie Clark (St Vincent) back when she was a member of The Polyphonic Spree, not recognising her and then wondering how she can be such a force but somehow blend into another project so seamlessly. I think women tend to be better at that anonymity when it’s called for, but it did make me question whether I’d be better staying a supporting member of other people’s projects. It would certainly be a lot less stressful than running the show myself at the very least.

Watch the live video here:

youtu.be/D25a0Q5kpuI

lyrics

Keeping my mouth shut
Keeping my mouth shut
Keeping my mouth shut
Keeping my mouth shut

You’re not the one for me
I’m not the one for you
Not only do I see
Not only do I do

If you want me to sing
You’ll have to pay your dues
Cause I don’t play for free
And I don’t tell the truth

Early days when you got your start and I am starting too I watched you
Back of the crowd you dress down but the shadow doesn’t suit you
Now my cavernous heart, whispers things that tear me apart
In the afternoon I squint at the pixels through the low battery gloom
I tried my hand at healthy living but it slipped right through
My cavernous heart, screams out at the state of the arts

Well I didn’t recognise you in a uniform
It was only your eyes that gave your face away
I found a way to find you like a deathless dawn
It was always your mind that kept your mouth in play

He likes his women meek
I like his women too
Try not to give an inch
Try not to give him two
There’s wrongs we’ve got to right
Seems like a good excuse
I’m tempted to agree
I’m tempted to refuse

Early days when I got my start and not so beautiful but I know
Being an ugly duckling had it’s benefits I’m telling you
I turned out alright, Save my quenchless thirst for a fight
Nowadays I drink too much to try and quell the feeling that I’m
Not supposed to be here that I’ll get what I deserve someday
It turns out I’m right, Haunts me through the day and the night

Well I never realised that I could take up space
And I know I won’t believe it till you tell me straight

Keeping my mouth shut, Oh
Keeping my mouth shut, Oh
Keeping my mouth shut, Oh
Keeping my mouth shut, Oh

Quiet down
Quiet down
Quiet down
Quiet down

credits

from Tantrum, track released July 4, 2022
Vocals, Additional Drums, Cello, Guitar, Synth, Trumpet, Bass + Percussion: Francesca Pidgeon
Trombone, Bass, Additional Guitars + Percussion: Adam Pardey
Drums + Rap: Jack Mee
Production: Francesca Pidgeon + Adam Pardey
Mixing: Adam Pardey + Richard Formby

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dilettante Manchester, UK

'Dilettante' is an art-rock collective led by multi-instrumentalist Francesca Pidgeon and is based in Northern England. The group was born out of Francesca's fear of committing to a single line up, and is her rebound project after a long-term relationship with indie-jazz four piece ‘Kumiko’.

FFO St Vincent, Fiona Apple, tUnE-yArDs, Billie Holiday, Andy Shauf, Grizzly Bear and Radiohead. ... more

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