Colorful, left of center and iconoclastic, the new single from Julian Brooks and Paris King is a fast-paced thrill ride. “Snakebite” is a small collision of genres that manages to both evoke nostalgia and feel current. Based out of the Berkeley/Oakland area, Brooks and King are an auspicious pairing if there ever was one. They somehow juggle multiple energies on “Snakebite,” and arrive at something that is original and coherent. It’s a track that is primarily geared towards rock fans, but has enough panache to be a potential crossover hit.
Not much is known about Julian Brooks and Paris King, or how they came together, other than that they are both “veterans of the East Bay scene.” Striking, and handsome in an exotic way, Brooks is the voice and the face of the duo. He has a cinematic quality to him, and has dabbled in Acting. Paris King is the mysterious one, who would seem to be the musical mastermind of the project. Together they create a matching, albeit unorthodox outfit.
“Snakebite,” has what is arguably one of the most important components of a great song; a strong chorus. As soon as you hear it for the first time, you begin to anticipate when it loops back around. Brooks’ vocal inflections are identifiable and quite possibly, calculated. He has a deceptively strong voice and sings in a way that few others do. He’s melodic, irreverent, charismatic and slightly unpolished, all at once. There’s a vulnerability to his style, that is almost micromanaged.
The video for “Snakebite” is somewhat essential to the piece. It tells the metaphorical story of several forces, both human and supernatural, that attempt to steal Julian’s girl from him. It’s exceptionally well shot and conceived. Brooks is allowed to flex his quirky charisma and has considerable screen presence. There’s an abundance of visual effects, and even something of an abstract, pop-art feel, though it never veers into pretentious territory.
Musically, “Snakebite,” manages to straddle Punk and a sort of strange Indie Pop sound. You have to assume that the clash of styles on the song are a direct result of the respective influences Brooks and King bring. It truly works, but some might find it to have an odd flavor, initially. Overall, the track is strengthened by how well written and decidedly infectious it is. Brooks and King keep the energy high, effectively negating any note for note analysis.
This is a tune that is truly worth getting excited for. One of the reasons this track is so effective is because it transcends the studio. The visual accoutrement of the lost art of the music video is a card that is rarely played. Brooks and King have won all sorts of awards for the video, and I believe that a potential resurgence is on the horizon. Julian Brooks and Paris King have reminded us what we used to seek in our Rock Stars and how that element is crucially underutilized in modern music. “Snakebite,” has shown us that the time might be right, to get a little weird.
Chadwick Easton