Maryland-based duo Pink Elefants have a tight-knit musical history spanning decades. Finch (Brian Flores) and Illeven (Joshua Grosscup) first met at the age of 8 performing at their town’s local Discovery Zone. After losing touch for a little, they reconnected in their late teens and have been consistently playing together ever since, including in the progressive rock outlet Megosh. As Pink Elefants, the duo have carved out a niche sound that defies all genre expectations by combining atmospheric pop, lo-fi electronica and old school hip-hop with their rock and metal roots. Their new single, “Sound Of Violence”, which PopWrapped are delighted to premiere, illustrates the duo’s dynamic and out-of-the-box musicality.
There’s an intriguing mysteriousness to “Sound Of Violence” spurred by the whispery vocals and hazy beats that flow through the song. The single’s shadowy, dark-hued music video also plays with the element of secrecy, drawing the viewer in to uncover the truth. Originally written pre-pandemic from the P.O.V of a guest at a lavish, seemingly-perfect LA party, the song has since taken on much greater meaning to the band. “It took the pandemic to reveal the true versatility of this song,” the band explain. “The overall theme of the song is about turning a blind eye to the evil in the world. In this case, the party seems perfect until you look closely and peel back the layers. As the veneer begins to decay we can see the darkness underneath. It relates to the way in which we have seen the corruption beneath seep through during this past year and we have been confronted with the innate struggle choosing between acting or remaining passive.”
Finch and Illeven made their debut as Pink Elefants in 2019. The band name was inspired by the “Pink Elephants on Parade” sequence in Disney’s Dumbo, released in 1941, and much like the transformation of the elephants in that scene, their ethos is to be ever-evolving with their sound and the world around them. Pink Elefants’ true passion lies in the creation of the music. “Writing together in this group brings back a lot of fun for us,” the duo write. “The limitations are removed and we can just write without worrying too much about all the other hoopla that comes along with being in a musical entity… this project is a dream team of passionate and hungry musical virtuosos.”
“Sound Of Violence” will be out tomorrow but you can watch the official music video below and you can keep up with Pink Elefants on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
