Pale Waves take a teenage roadtrip in the video for Eighteen

Pale Waves have been on a roll this past year. Ever since ‘Television Romance’ blew up, the goth-styled 80s obsessives have been getting bigger and bigger, hailed as one of the most exciting new acts around. As the summer draws to a close and autumn looms, they’re set to cement that reputation with a relentless few months of touring, and the release of their debut album My Mind Makes Noises. Today they’re sharing the album’s lead single ‘Eighteen’.

Premiering on Notion this morning, the track sets the tone for the next few months of Pale Waves, leaning more heavily on the 80s synths and glimmering pop choruses that they’ve always flirted with. Opening with bubbling electronics and reverb-soaked guitar, ‘Eighteen’ feels Paramore produced by Italian disco pioneer Georgio Moroder. Packed with sharp riffs and pounding drums it’s Pale Waves’ sound distilled to its essence.

The track’s accompanying video follows frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie on a road trip, exploring the woods and stopping off in dinners, joined by a mystery partner. Opening with a scene of Baron-Gracie pulling off a blonde wig, the visual feels like a film that you’ve started watching halfway through, hints of mystery and plot scattered throughout but not enough to piece together a narrative. Watch/listen to ‘Eighteen’ below.

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