Julia Laws, the LA-based singer, songwriter, and producer known as Ronboy, has been in Matt Berninger's orbit in recent years, and the National frontman guested on her single "Disaster" last year. She's got a new song called "I Am Only Playing" out today, a preview of this summer's Get Rich EP. You should listen to it.
"I Am Only Playing" lets Laws show off her magnetic bellow over her own steadily creeping bassline as the track builds into a dramatic post-punk ballad with traces of Florence + The Machine and PJ Harvey. By the end, the grungy power chords are chugging, and the refrain "I am only playing" has started to feel like a mantra. Laws explains, "I wanted to capture a parallel with the arc of the song and lyrics, spinning and building into a sonic release of 'I can't keep my cool anymore.'"
Listen below, where you'll also find Ronboy's upcoming tour dates supporting Berninger.
TOUR DATES:
03/09 - Portland, OR @ McMenamins Crystal Ballroom
03/17 - Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
03/23 - Boston, MA @ Royale Boston
03/24 - Woodstock, NY @ Bearsville Theater
03/25 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
