Premiere: Sluggish Pleasure Releases New Single and Video for “King Cowboy”
Sluggish Pleasure’s New EP, Mi Amigo Sluggish Pleasure, To Be Launched by way of Mick Music on June 7
Apr 26, 2024
Images by Jay Martin
Immediately, Dallas-based Chicano solo artist Sluggish Pleasure (aka Esteban Flores) is releasing the second single, “King Cowboy,” from his upcoming EP Mi Amigo Sluggish Pleasure. “King Cowboy” was preceded by the EP’s first single, “Pulling Tooth,” which was launched on March 14. The EP was recorded at New Jersey’s Barbershop Studios and was produced by Mike Sapone (Oso Oso, Taking Again Sunday). Mi Amigo Sluggish Pleasure might be obtainable by way of all streaming companies on its June seventh launch date. Flores’ earlier EP, Sunflower, was additionally launched by Mick Music in 2022.
Flores’ prior work was extra instantly emo leaning, however Mi Amigo Sluggish Joy finds the mission branching out with a wider array of sounds and types. Flores credit Sapone for pushing him down new inventive paths. Within the EP’s press launch Flores shares, “I’m such a creature of behavior with regards to inventive issues, that I’ll simply hold reproducing the identical factor in the identical room. I by no means had the time to experiment in a pleasant studio.” Sunflower targeted on the grieving and therapeutic course of within the aftermath of his mom’s passing, whereas Mi Amigo Sluggish Pleasure is extra inwardly targeted.
“King Cowboy” is a tongue in cheek doubling down on the idea of the macho mystique of the traditional icon of the American West. “The idea of a brash cowboy doing his finest to persuade the listener he’s the king of all cowboys whereas residing a secular life felt good,” Flores says. “I wrote the track in my lounge and it was a kind of uncommon moments the place the music and lyrics got here collectively on the identical time.”
Although muted by layers of fuzzed out guitars, the track’s verses paint a bleak view of relationship dynamics. “Let’s elevate some children that hate their lives” is adopted shortly thereafter by “drift aside till we die.” However given Flores’ love of the ironic, he follows every of those downcast ideas with the chest bumping brag of being the perfect of the perfect within the shouted choruses. The track begins with a delicate thrum, however shortly varieties right into a melodic line that then blossoms right into a boomy alt-rock anthem. Flores performs the entire devices on the track except for drums beneath the helm of Travis Haile. And the track’s outro was conceived by Sapone. “The tip half is a sick ass delay path that Mike placed on the vocals. After we heard it within the studio we misplaced our minds,” Flores says.
The EP’s title, Mi Amigo Sluggish Pleasure, is each a nod to his Mexican-American heritage and Flores’ view of his musical mission. “The times of rock star worship are over. Each one that listens to my music or involves a present of mine would most likely be a good friend if we met in a unique context,” Flores explains. The accompanying single shot lyric video was shot on a ranch in neighboring Oklahoma. The video was directed by Jay Martin and shot by Thomas Blanks. Flores sings the phrases to “King Cowboy” whereas step by step rising his working tempo because the track builds.
Although Mi Amigo Sluggish Pleasure isn’t out till June, Flores, like a king, is already again within the studio with Sapone engaged on his full-length debut LP.
Mi Amigo Sluggish Pleasure tracklist:
1. 4U
2. Pulling Tooth
3. King Cowboy
4. Lay Me Out, I’m Out of My Thoughts