(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Multi-instrumentalist (drums, guitars, vocals, keys), songwriter and producer, Rachel Ana Dobken released the driving and melodic, "Cruel, Cruel, Cruel," on September 13th as the first single from her forthcoming 2024 LP, Acceptance. Dobken continues to win fans over with her electric and passionate live performances where she seamlessly leads her band from two positions while singing -- out front with her guitar and behind the drum kit.
“Cruel, Cruel, Cruel” was produced by Dobken and Eric Romero (The Front Bottoms) and is steeped in Dobken’s sonic influences including Thin Lizzy, Jeff Buckley, and Angel Olsen. The track opens with the songwriter’s restrained, yet pointed understanding that it is, “cruel, cruel, cruel, the way you love to disappoint me” over a sustained guitar before kicking full throttle into a boisterous declaration that she no longer wants to be on the receiving end of this brutal romantic entanglement. In addition to her vocals, the songwriter plays both drums and guitar on the track.
"Cruel is about the frustrations in knowing that you and a certain someone love each another, but the other person has decided to shut you out. One day while dealing with the emotional fall out from said situation, I was showering and heard the hook as a complete melodic/lyrical thought."
"Cruel, cruel, cruel, the way you love to disappoint me’ and in the next breath, the verse/chorus. The groove in particular is punk rock, but it’s swung with a specific pocket (as I am very intentional about this in all my songs). Dan Haase (bass) added to this with his particularly groovy bass-lines. I always heard these searing Thin Lizzy-eqsue guitar harmonies on the chorus and with Erik Rudic’s (guitar) collaboration we were able to get that beautifully. Romero and I were very intentional on the song’s tones, including thick, (slightly thrashy) drum sounds, and ripping / spooky delay drenched guitars which lean into the slight-left-of-center-a-tonal nature of the verse leading to the big pay off of the chorus (so catchy)!”
Rachel Ana Dobken is a powerhouse musician with a knack for blending heavy, indie-rock and soul. Described as “My Morning Jacket meets Lake Street Dive,” she’s been featured by Relix Magazine, Guitar Girl Magazine, American Songwriter, The Aquarian Weekly, New York Times an many more. She worked closely with famed music photographer Danny Clinch as Music Director of his Transparent Gallery in Asbury Park, NJ. She has performed with Ben Kenney of Incubus, Mike McCready, G. Love, Blind Melon, Robert Randolph, Rayland Baxter, Brian Fallon, Nicole Atkins, Tash Neal and many more.
Upcoming Shows
9.20 @ Americana Fest // Nashville, TN (band)
9.23 @ Cafe Nola // Frederick, MD (band)
9.24 @ The Queen // Wilmington, DE (band)
10.1 @ Trans-Pecos // Queens, NY (band)
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