Last we caught up with Mel Denisse, the Los Angeles artist was d/b/a NIGHTS, and her lively post-‘gaze alt-rock spun us ’round so quickly her track “Gone” landed a bright spotlight in our 2018 Year in ReView. Fast forward four years and a million emotions later, and Denisse resurfaced Friday (October 28) with an enrapturing new single called “Just The Same,” an atmospheric alt-pop seducer with an alluring sonic depth that asks us to confront some rather harsh realities.
“Just The Same” finds Denisse collaborating with Stephen Laurenson (Copeland), Chad Howat (Paper Route, Underoath), and Chris Athens (PVRIS), but this time, her name is front and center. And that’s appropriate, as the magnetic track’s undertow-like draw finds Denisse taking on a personal nature that begins with an inward focus.
“’Just The Same’ captures a tension I think we all feel — looking at the world or leaders (anything really) and finding this weight of judgement and shock towards their actions, and then equally having an internal crisis of sorts that we are really no different,” she says. “It’s somewhat of a humble defeat, who am I to judge, and looking at everything from a pretty raw standpoint.”
Stand by her side and share her vantage point below.