pen pin have today released their new video and single titled ‘Vampire’. Forget the sparkly vampires, melodramatic capes, and whatever fresh nonsense Hollywood is trying to sell us this Halloween. pen pin have a much better idea of what makes a vampire worth inviting into your life, and it has considerably more to do with emotional survival than an inexplicable thirst for necks. Jeni Magaña and Emily Moore deliver a darkly delicious dose of indie pop with ‘Vampire’, a track that wraps its shadows in the kind of sun soaked, hazy atmosphere that makes you want to lounge beside a swimming pool while contemplating all the people who have ever wronged you. Naturally, you will be doing this in excellent company, because pen pin understand that even the most well adjusted among us occasionally need a trusted accomplice for imaginary arguments we will never actually win.
What makes ‘Vampire’ particularly appealing is the contrast between its darker subject matter and the inviting personality that runs through pen pin’s sound. Rather than wallowing in misery or dragging listeners through another exhausting exercise in emotional devastation, the duo find the sweet spot between moody and melodic.
Their vintage pop sensibilities give the song a dreamy, effortless quality, while the darker edges keep things from floating away into a cloud of pleasant nothingness. It is the musical equivalent of a charming stranger who seems perfectly harmless until you realize you have been telling them your deepest secrets for the last three hours. Delightful, slightly suspicious, and absolutely worth your time.
The music video gives ‘Vampire’ another opportunity to showcase the personality behind the project, with Magaña and Moore bringing the kind of chemistry you would hope for from two musicians whose friendship helped inspire pen pin in the first place. These are seasoned performers who have worked alongside some seriously impressive names, but the appeal here is not a parade of industry credentials or an elaborate attempt to convince everyone that indie pop requires a graduate degree. It is the natural connection between two creative minds who clearly enjoy making music together.
Their DIY approach adds to the charm, proving that you do not need an army of executives, a suspiciously expensive production budget, or seventeen people arguing over the shade of a promotional poster to make something memorable.
At its heart, ‘Vampire’ is about having someone in your corner when the world gets ugly, which is a refreshingly human idea for a song with such a deliciously spooky title. Sometimes the person who loves you most is the one who will patiently listen while you explain, in painstaking detail, the devastating comeback you thought of in the shower four hours after the argument ended. That is friendship, romance, and possibly the most practical form of emotional first aid available.
pen pin have taken that comforting sentiment and dressed it in their own hazy, darkly playful indie pop aesthetic, creating a song that feels equally suited to Halloween playlists and those ordinary days when you need reminding that someone has your back. With ‘Vampire’, pen pin make a compelling case for keeping your favorite people close and your imaginary revenge monologues even closer.
About pen pin
Los Angeles’ pen pin is the new sun-soaked indie pop project from songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeni Magaña and Emily Moore. The duo are both acclaimed in their own right for their solo works as Magana and Total Brutal, as well as for their collaborations and session/tour performances with artists like Mitski, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Charli xcx, Good Neighbours, Lady Lamb, Jade Bird and countless others.
Originally meeting while touring with Mitski, the duo’s fast friendship and joyful, natural chemistry inspired them to channel their mutual love of vintage pop into the creation of their upcoming debut album. As shown at their dreamy live shows and on singles like “Fringe” and “The Boredom,” the result of this “pen pinspiration” is a chill, hazy, retro sound that feels like lounging by a Palm Desert pool as afternoon becomes dusk.
Their new single “Vampire” is a dark indie pop banger. Jeni shares, “Vampire is about having someone in your life that loves you so much that you know they are always on your team. It’s about having someone you feel safe with in a world of peril and insecurity. If you’ve seen You’ve Got Mail, there’s a scene where Kathleen Kelly wishes she had come up with a comeback to an insult and then she finally does and realizes it feels horrible. I took that lesson to heart, and I try not to respond in any given moment with teeth, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t immediately call my husband or Emily and talk about all the mean things I could have said. It feels pretty good.” “Vampire” is the latest single off of their highly anticipated forthcoming album PONY UP!
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