New York’s avant-electro agitators Energy Whores have dropped a biting new single, “Pretty Sparkly Things,” ahead of their upcoming album Arsenal of Democracy. Known for their politically charged artistry, the band takes the glitter and gold of luxury culture and scrapes away the sheen to reveal the dark side, coveted underneath. Released August 15, the track doubles as a critique of billionaire excess, influencer fakery, and the cruel gap between those basking in privilege and those left to scrape by.
From the first beat, “Pretty Sparkly Things” pulls you into a neon-lit space with its pulsing synths and angular rhythm. The production is slick, almost club-ready, and the high vocals float in softly which contrasts the barbed lyrics. What sounds dreamy on the surface quickly turns scathing, as the lines, “Can’t pay your bills, can’t afford your pills… They’re only for the kings of pop” hit like a slap across the face of consumerist fantasy. The hypnotic groove lures you in, but the words ensure you don’t just dance blindly.
The track doesn’t stop at mocking materialism. It skewers the whole circus. From influencers hiding behind filters to spoiled heiresses clutching pearls, Energy Whores strip the glamour from society’s obsession with status. At one point, the refrain, “We can’t forget where we came from” cuts through the gloss, anchoring the song with an emotional touchpoint, reflecting the collective struggle that should ground us in oneness.
As frontwoman Carrie Schoenfeld explains, it’s playful and deadly serious, because sparkle is often just smoke and mirrors covering up exploitation. With Arsenal of Democracy on the horizon, “Pretty Sparkly Things” is gearing up for the good stuff. Check it out on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan