The average volume of a human tear is something like 6.2 microlitres, which, scientifically speaking, is very very small. It would take the entire population of Halifax to each cry 5,794,024 tears to fill an Olympic swimming pool, never mind—as Justin Timberlake has suggested—an entire river.
Pillow Fite, the up-and-coming queer folk-pop duo of Art Ross and Aaron Green come close though, at least with the help of director Loren Baldwin and animator Shannon Long. The new video for “Alkali” has the band quickly succumbing to the depths of their own despair, finding themselves immersed in a room of Ross’s (animated) tears.
“Alkali” is, as the band says, “a eulogy for a relationship,” built on dreamy major chords and leaning into the upbeat inspirations of songs like Phoebe Bridgers’ “Kyoto” or Snail Mail’s “Golden Dream.” It goes for a big emotional punch-up, but without ever abandoning the rough notion that “Alkali” is still intended to be a fun song.
The one-shot performance video contains a handful of Easter eggs—or what we’d like to imagine are Easter eggs. The whole video— “Always trying to turn the acid to alkali”—feels like it might be a slight reference to Fight Club, minus the dated appeal to toxic masculinity. Fortunately, tears have a relatively neutral pH balance, even leaning slightly towards alkaline—roughly the same as pool water—they can often be fixed with a kiss and without the use of vinegar.
But what of the other visual cues found in “Alkali”? Is that message in a bottle drifting through the middle foreground a reference to The Police? Is the apricot a nod to fellow Halifa indie-pop artist Burry when Ross sings of the jittery post-breakup aftermath? There’s certainly no room for Chuck Palahniuk in the Yellow Submarine. Not even a little. Did you even read his book Choke?
Whatever the case, Shannon Long, in particular, deserves a shout-out for video, but especially the detailed splashing of Aaron Green’s hand as he hits the water with each strum. It’s the little things that shine on “Alkali.”
As far as coming out the other side of a breakup without becoming bitter, Pillow Fite have a soft sort of angst to offer, along with a single full of hooks and probably the best band photo ever taken. their growing appeal in Halifax might not yet get an Olympic swimming pool filled, but they’re on their way.