Pet Owner, the performing alias for Lucerne, Switzerland-based songwriter Lea Mathis, programs drum machines from the 80s and adds folky guitar riffs, quirky noises, and elapsed synths to create a contemporary mélange of folktronica and bubblegum pop. This aesthetic carries over to her artwork and music videos. Her debut album Natural Behaviour is out now on the Swiss label Red Brick Chapel.
“Soft Body”, a track of the debut album from Pet Owner, is an oddly mesmerizing track that leaves the listener saying to themselves “Wait, what was I just doing?” after realizing the song has been on repeat for fifteen minutes. The velvety vocals and minimalistic rhythm track act as a sleight of hand trick that allows your guard to drop while the winding melody sneaks your brain off to parts unknown. “Soft Body” is believably weird, which is what also makes it so comforting.
