Indie Rock from Davia Schendel

Over the last four years, San Francisco-based artist Davia Schendel has been crafting a body of work that brings together music, visuals and creative writing into a multi-dimensional artistic vision. A singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, she channels themes of existentialism, nostalgia and surrealism through her practice, creating songs that speak to both the intimate and the abstract.

Equally at home on bass, guitar, mandolin, percussion and synths, she embraces her role as a complete musician, shaping her work from multiple angles to achieve its full expression. First unveiling her original sound in 2021 with the debut single “Helena Lives In Her Mind,” she’s since delivered an impressive catalogue of work across multiple well-received singles, remixes, alternate versions and EPs.

Davia’s output has been recognised along the way by platforms such as She Shreds Magazine and Soho Radio, further evidence of her wide appeal within communities that value innovation and creative autonomy. Her music often carries the qualities of a reflection; thoughtful, intricate and self-aware, yet she brings a sharp sense of wit and stylistic flair to her work. This balance is exemplified in her latest release titled “Pulling Fits,” a track that stands as her most ambitious production to date.

At once a danceable indie rock anthem and a commentary on modern anxieties, it captures the contradictions of contemporary life with both humour and meaningful lyricism. The title plays on the phrase “pulling fits,” nodding to both the world of fashion and the meltdowns tied to living in a culture obsessed with success.

With tongue-in-cheek writing, Davia reshapes these ideas into an acute cultural observation which finds a way to mirror the pressures of modern life. Featuring Jonah Ben-Amotz on guitar and bass, the track is built on interplay and texture, framing its commentary in catchy melodic writing and energising rhythm to deliver an innovative musical experience from start to finish.

Wrapped up in an experimental arrangement packed full of expressive vocal performance, rhythmic switch ups and various twists and turns, Davia adds dashes of art rock and synth pop into the soundscape to offer something fiercely original. Propelled by the grooving shuffle of drums and pulsing bass textures, the delicate flicker of guitar rhythms and twang of lead notes form the immersive backdrop for Davia’s engaging vocal leads.

Flowing through moments of stripped-back, dreamy aesthetic and choral vocalisations, the track glides through downtempo passages to craft a sound brimming with incredible ebb and flow. It’s an indie rock experience unlike any other which sees her present a song that’s both musically playful and thematically poignant and we can’t wait to see what she’s got in store next.

Listen to Pulling Fits below

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