At one time or another, most of us have been affected by social pressures. To do things outside our moral comfort zone, influenced by peers or even those we have never met, just to be accepted by a group. It can leave you with a sour taste. It can lead you to think ‘SCREW SOCIETY!’
However, a new song and video from up and coming teenage singer-songwriter Oni Kidman, set for full release on April 7, is telling us to screw society - for all the right reasons.
You don’t need to wear makeup to be pretty, your teeth don’t have to be straight or paper white, and you can cut your hair whatever way you want. The key message is 'believe in yourself, love yourself – that’s what equals the perfect life'.
‘Screw Society,’ Oni Kidman’s debut single, is an energetic, highly infectous, country pop song, written with wisdom beyond the years of its 19 year old author.
“You can be tall or short, or in between, you’re beautiful to me
If you’re heavy, skinny I don’t care, as long as you are who you want to be”
‘Screw Society’ which goes on pre-order on March 31, makes a statement about the unrealistic pressures and ideals that people feel they need to try to live up to in the modern world.
“I want every single person to be able to relate to this song and feel loved and confident in who they are,” says Oni. “Society tries to shove you in a stereotyped box, but screw that! It’s OK to be 100% authentically you!”
Oni comes from a family steeped in New Zealand music history. Her Dad is Rikki Morris and Uncle Ian was a member of Kiwi legends Th' Dudes.
However Oni, who admits to making up random melodies and singing till her throat was sore from the age of 4, is writing original music in a different era to her iconic family members.
Her generation has grown up through a time of intense social media scrutiny, bombarded with endless streams of content about how to look, feel and fit in. The irony is blatantly obvious when we hear Oni's huge sigh just before the first chorus.
“Just like the seasons change, so do all of the trends, so why don’t we start a new one,” says Oni, mirroring the bridge of her song.
Inspired by a new wave of fearless country music songwriters and storytellers over the past decade, the likes of Luke Combs and Kacey Musgraves, Oni is also releasing an E.P. with 2 other equally catchy original songs, ‘Waited Too Long’ and ‘Living Without You,’ the latter of which was recently announced as a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition.
'Screw Society’ was produced and mixed by Rikki Morris at the Lab Studios and Skew Whiff Studios in Auckland. The song (and EP) are the direct result of NZ on Air 'New Music Development' funding.
This is just the first of many songs from Oni Kidman that will stick in your head and bring a smile to your face. One to definitely watch.