Queer punk collective Dream Nails has released a new single alongside the announcement of their sophomore record, Doom Loop.
The infectious ‘Femme Boi’, the album’s second single, is a celebration of vulnerability, unity and trans freedom. The four-piece’s new frontman, Ishmael Kirby explains: “This song began as a catchy hook, a trans daydream about the power I could hold as a boy embracing femininity. “Our guitarist Anya had to really coax the idea out of me, because I was fearful it wouldn’t make sense,” he shares. “I wanted to protect this precious truth I knew about myself but hadn’t vocalised.” He declares that the hooky track “defies society’s expectations of a feminine trans-boy,” and invites listeners “to find joy and connection” in it. ‘Femme Boi’ follows last month’s defiant, tongue-in-cheek anthem ‘Good Guy’. READ MORE: The redemption and return of PVRIS Doom Loop, the band’s second album, is introspective and vibrant, while also seeing them burst forth from their DIY roots.
The album tackles themes such as social injustice, the pervasiveness of patriarchy and the grips of outdated constructs. Ross Orton, who has worked with groups such as Arctic Monkeys and Amyl and the Sniffers, has produced the album.
With a new frontman, label and collaborator, the punk collective is not afraid to expand their sound. Dream Nails seeks to make more than idealistic, punchy anthems.