Indianapolis alt-rock quartet Bonnie Lola seamlessly blends hard rock riffs, funk delivery, and new-wave instrumentation. Their songs range from sprawling, psychedelic journeys like “Blue Imagine” and “I’m Going Home” to punchy earworms like “The Worker.”
There is nothing inherently conventional or familiar about Bonnie Lola’s “Shoulder Tattoo.” Still, the minute the subtle funk of the bassline and frantic vocals hit your ears, you’ll feel right at home. The band unearthed the middle ground between complex and comforting by blurring the lines between pop anthems and left-field indie rock. The way the acrobatic vocals freely roam over the thick basslines and face-melting guitar melodies. For a second, once the left-field vocals kick in, you would think you’re in the midst of a radio-ready hit single, but the explosion of distorted guitars brings you right back to a dimly-lit underground rock club. Miraculously, the dense wall of sound can still provide some enticing dynamics. Never once does “Shoulder Tattoo” feel repetitive, even if you’ve listened to the song on repeat for hours. Bonnie Lola’s expert musicianship comes in waves on this single, allowing for moments of deep breathing for the listener before they swing the tune to heavy guitar solos. Bonnie Lola crafted a stunning single with staggering melodies that transition from earth-shattering to danceable in the blink of an eye.
“With ‘Shoulder Tattoo,’ we wanted to create a track that emphasized all of our musical talents while still being something energetic that you could hear at a party. It all started with the bass line, creating a memorable and catchy hook from an instrument that typically flies under the radar. Robbie is a stellar bassist, so we give him the freedom to shine beyond just a sub-foundation,” explains the band. “Our other parts began to layer on top of that, leaning into a new wave area while still keeping the track distinctly alt-rock. And building through the bridge leads to keep things dynamically driving all the way to the end.”
“Keeping party rock in mind, we wrote the lyrics to call out the primal nature of nightlife and find a special person (in our case, a woman) who catches your eye,” continues Bonnie Lola. “The song is about flirtatious pursuit and the tunnel vision that follows.”
