@ – “Bird”

Just a month remains until @ releases their sophomore album, Autosmile. The Philly-based hyperfolk duo previously charmed listeners with their early singles, and track three, Bird, continues to impress. This hauntingly beautiful folk song manages to rearrange one's thoughts despite its sparse and intricate composition. It gradually unfolds into sublime simplicity at the perfect moments, all while retaining an eerie atmosphere.

Stone Filipczak, one half of the duo, admits, "I'm at the mercy of God." The inspiration for Bird came from a series of dead baby birds that frequented his deck. The song was penned during a bike ride through Druid Hill Park in Baltimore. Filipczak humorously adds that the lyrics are riddled with puns, which hopefully soften their otherwise hopeless tone.

The music video for Bird was directed by Caity Arthur. In her statement, Arthur expressed her desire for warmth and death, stating, "Whatever, I don't want it." She recalls walking out onto her deck with the intention of putting a hole in her head, a line that struck her as both jarring and relatable.

Arthur's inspiration for the video stemmed from a real-life experience. Just a few days before starting the video, a beautiful black and white bird had died on her own balcony, only to be devoured by flies and ants shortly after. She drew parallels between the song and the bird's demise, creating a dreamlike and strangely poignant sequence in her mind.

Arthur is an advocate for finding beauty in sadness and darkness, rather than shying away from them. She explains that a decomposed baby bird ended up resting on her doorstep, which she should have given a proper funeral on the first day.

Autosmile is set to be released on October 16th through 4AD. Fans can pre-order the album now. In the meantime, it's worth keeping an eye on the week's most compelling music stories and the most amusing music memes.