Miriam Clancy shares her latest track, a cover of “Wicked Little Town” from the 2001 cult film, Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Miriam's delivery showcases the depth of her powerful, melodic explosions of heart, rage, and release - echoing themes from her early 2023 album, Black Heart.
Where Black Heart was reminiscent of the great female artists at the fore of 90s alt-music and the era's definitive sonic aesthetic, "Wicked Little Town" harnesses the sorrow and the outrage, the compassion for people who suffer at the whims of the masses in wicked little towns.
"Wicked Little Town" builds on themes incorporated into Miriam's intensely personal album, Black Heart, featuring complex characters, stories of intergenerational history, longing, desire and shattered dreams. Her reworking of "Wicked Little Town" describes Anytown USA, or for that matter, Anytown Anywhere. It's a deeply relatable story, and the accompanying video shows the struggles of people demonstrating for their rights and their safety, fighting to be heard and respected in each and every wicked little town. This rendition beseeches the listener to see and understand the struggles that are real for people, everyone. It's heavy, it's gorgeous, it's compelling.
Of the track, Miriam says, “Wicked Little Town” (v.2023) was recorded in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, where Keith Haring grew up and also Derrick Rump - drag performer and co-owner of Club Q, Colorado where he was bartending when he died in a mass shooting Nov 2022. In response to that tragedy and the increasing anti-LGBT political discourse, anti-drag laws plus the threat against LGBTQ+ basic human rights - I found solace in playing this magical tune from the movie Hedwig and the Angry Inch, so began fashioning an alternate version where I allowed big feelings to rule the last refrain by throwing down the gauntlet of sound and guiding the listener home, with love and support for the rainbow community everywhere. Joined by Kiwi friend Paul Russell (Midwave Breaks) who beamed his drums in from Aotearoa via the science fiction of the Internet, and hip-hop legend Bassy Bob Brockman (Notorious B.I.G., TLC) who took it to Brooklyn for a deep mix, Alex Deturk (David Bowie) in NYC on mastering, and gilded with a series of surreal pictures including the single cover taken by Haring's friend, photographer Julie Stark. I'm stoked to work with this crew, and very proud to stand amongst the flowers in the field of humanity - we want to see a world where they/you/us are safe everywhere.”