Foamboy Juggle With Seasonal Depression & Capitalism In “Better”

Portland duo Foamboy, aka Katy and Will, navigate through seasonal depression and capitalism-induced pressures in new single “Better.” Yes, it’s summer – the season of beach and happiness. But trust me on this – nothing is as gloomy as summertime sadness (I mean, there was a whole chart-topping remix about it) and 9-6 grind. Taken from their upcoming debut LP My Sober Daydream, which is out on October 1st, “Better” captures the wistfulness and sadness we struggle with in these kinds of situations:
Speaking of the influence behind the track, Katy explained: “‘Better’ is a song about seasonal depression mingling with the dread of a life under capitalism. I wrote this song when I was working one of the most demanding jobs of my life. I was running up against some pretty dark thoughts and I was watching my entire routine and sense of self crumble. But I had to wonder- maybe it’s just because the sun sets at 4:30pm? Although that job was particularly harsh, it also brought up the fear that no matter what job or path I choose, I will be unhappy with it somehow. The perfect complement to any existential crisis is a glittery disco beat, so when Wil sent me this idea, I thought ‘Why not? Let’s mix this super upbeat music with my depression.’ Can you imagine if this song had happy lyrics? I don’t think it would slap as hard.”
On the video, Will shared: “The music video for ‘Better’ was a collaboration between us and LA based choreographer and director Monika Felice Smith. Monika has worked with some big names like Finneas, Olivia Rodrigo, and more, so we were incredibly excited to collaborate with her on this. We worked with her right from the beginning on everything from the choreography style, to the wardrobe, location, and editing style. The late 60’s vintage vibe of the clothing and setting were chosen to pair well with the saturated and warm tones of the song. This album was very much driven by emotion and aesthetic, so it was also important for us to match that in the video, and have the choreography be a bit more abstract and not super literal. While our main theme in the song is dealing with depression, the video reflects that with our main dancer struggling to find a way to “pick herself up.” As she struggles to find the strength within herself, we see her running into other dancers, relating to them, empathizing with them, and creating a support system. Our now four dancers latch and pull on one another, finding ways to pick each other up, find solace in their shared struggle, and create the space to freely express their frustrations, joys, and fears. With the ending, I wanted to make sure we portrayed a change in our main character, but that her struggle was not over. Mental health is an extremely nuanced and complex part of life, and for many people there is no one cure-all. So this video is more about finding those moments that can help you push forward in life, and fostering a positive relationship with your mental health, rather than alienating yourself from it.”