Photo Credit: Alejandro Zuniga Pena (@alejopz)
By Alissa Arunarsirakul // September 8, 2020
Practically every hit song nowadays is about partying or being rich, but HOAX crafts the most thoughtful hidden hits that we’re proud to send your way. The New York indie pop duo has dubbed their sound “empathy pop,” but it’s so much more than that. With deep examinations of the human condition in their growing discography, HOAX continues to impress us with yet another alluring new single, “Western Medicine.”
With rolling beats and charming tambourines, “Western Medicine” is a dreamy sonic offering we can’t get enough of. As HOAX touches on human existence and escapism, “Western Medicine” reminds us to appreciate the life we’re living–no matter how confusing or horrible it may seem. The accompanying visual introduces us to a Western theme as the masterminds of HOAX find themselves in an intense Mexican standoff.
On “Western Medicine,” HOAX shared,
“I think humans kind of live through this notion that ‘as long as there is breath, there is hope.’ We fixate on this, and spend so much time pondering on the meaning of our meandering existence, only to resort to these proclaimed ‘Western Medicine’ that allow our self-formulated expectations to control us and guide our decisions when really, they are just ‘miracle snake oils’ than healthy lifestyles. But I do understand why, I think. Existence is painful, and numbing seems necessary.”
The Hidden Hits 