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L.A. native Cassandra Violet’s new single “Superbloom” (out June 5) is a psychedelic folk-pop dreamscape of friendships and flowers wrapped in scathing critique of modern social media. Produced by Joe Berry of M83, this song found its inspiration in ‘70s Harry Nilsson and Joshua Tree National Park. Violet’s haunting and beautiful music has been featured in films and series including Ozark (Netflix), Und
Every spring in Southern California, hillsides are covered in a spectacular fiery orange as the poppies bloom. Thousands of people flock to these vibrant hills to see (and take their photo with) the superbloom. This song illustrates how social media, like a drug, has ruined Violet’s mind.
“The performative nature of social media gives me this high, and then makes me feel terrible.” Violet says. “It’s a little show and we’re all waiting for cheers from the audience. Last year, it seemed like everyone I knew went to the desert to see the superbloom. I forgot to go until it was over, and I was angry with myself. Then I thought, do I actually want to see the flowers, or do I just want to post a picture in front of them?”
“Superbloom” is a thoughtfully constructed menagerie of infectious hooks, loops and layered vocals blended into otherworldly harmonies. Think Nancy Sinatra meets First Aid Kit meets King Gizzard. This song isn’t afraid to spiral into trippy solos and cosmic wormholes as Violet’s gorgeous voice guides you like a sherpa through her own labyrinthine relationship with social media. She explores the complexity of posting photos to maintain an orchestrated version of herself for a mostly anonymous audience versus simply living her life without every nature hike and baked cake being meticulously cataloged.
“I bake cakes just to post them on Instagram,” says Violet, “and it makes me feel proud. I do lots of things just to post them. I know social media was designed to bring people together but sometimes I feel like it does just the opposite. I got tired of feeling bad about myself and comparing myself to everyone else, so I wrote a song about it.”
The psychological effects of social media is becoming a common theme in art and culture, from films like Eighth Grade to the Black Mirror episode “Nosedive.” Studies have found a direct correlation between depression and time spent on social media. Violet’s music has always held a mirror up to where a woman stands in society, and “Superbloom” illuminates this modern issue that has us constantly questioning our own identity.