Have you been looking for a new anthem to soundtrack your Pride Month? Has “Padam Padam” worn thin by now? Theia has got you covered.
The pop singer-songwriter has released “Girls!”, which comes off as a sweet riposte to Charli XCX’s “Boys”. Now based in the US, Theia fittingly unveiled the song at LA Pride, where it went down a storm.
“Girls!” is a sweet, love song for girls who love girls,” she succinctly explains. “She smells like heaven / So divine,” Theia breathlessly, blushingly sings. “She makes me want to cry!” she adds, her words dripping in desire.
Theia had been listening to classic ’90s artists like Sinead O’Connor, Alanis Morissette and The Cranberries while writing ‘Girls!”, and the latter’s Dolores O’Riordan was a songwriter who knew how to exquisitely pen a yearning romantic ode.
“For the first time ever on a Theia track, I did away with all the electronic bells and whistles and went only with live production,” Theia says. “Everything you hear – the drums, the guitars – are all being played live in the studio.”
“Girls!” is resultantly grungy, revelling in the inspiration of those artistic antecedents from the ’90s, paring airy vocals with direct lyricism.
Following her turn to the serious and sincere as TE KAAHU last year, which saw her rightfully lauded for her debut album of te reo Māori compositions, Te Kaahu O Rangi, Em-Haley Walker is clearly joining her year of fun in 2023.
“Girls!” follows “Crucified By U”, which came around the time of Theia’s performance at Big Gay Out, and “Pray 4 Me”, two stylish alt-pop cuts performed at differing speeds. She also memorably supported Peaches at Auckland’s Powerstation earlier this year.
All three songs are set to feature on Walker’s eagerly-anticipated debut full-length album as Theia, which will follow several well-received EPs she’s released since unveiling the moniker in 2016.
Theia’s “Girls!” is out now.
