Yea-Ming and the Rumours – “Paper Doll”

It’s always nice to start the morning off with something out of Bay Area stronghold Dandy Boy Records, and doubly nice when it comes from RSTB faves Yea-Ming and the Rumours. The band continues to deepen their pop roots on their latest single, the first off a new album for the label. “Paper Doll” works through resentment and reflection with one foot in pop and another in country, courtesy of Eoin’s slide guitar lines that give the song a bittersweet edge. Low slung and simmering, the song kicks back to shades of VU with Nico at the wheel, hung heavy with Yea-Ming’s sonorous sigh.

The song deals with a tendency to prioritize others over your own needs, and pins a sinewy slink onto its caustic revelations. Yea-Ming elaborates on the song’s roots, “When writing “Paper Doll,” I was reflecting heavily on my people-pleasing tendencies which has resulted in finding myself in situations that I don’t really want to be in and in some cases HATED being in.  I was feeling really angry about this; and at the time mostly at others who “forced” me into those situations.  I think this song was written while I was sort of discovering the anger and resentment I felt.  I suppose I was feeling somewhat “used” at the time; being forced to conform to something I wasn’t.  The song sort of helped me process those feelings and eventually realize that the anger was directed towards myself because it really was me not allowing myself the agency to be authentic.” The song helps anchor the central themes on the band’s new album, Residue, out June 12th from Dandy Boy.  

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