april june Embraces the Subtle Beauty of the Unknown in “baby’s out of luck again”

Photo: Ana Albores Prejigueiro

Dream pop princess april june is embracing the unknown in her cinematic new single, “baby’s out of luck again.” It’s another scene of the film from her upcoming EP, following January's release of “sweeter than drugs,” which arrived as an ode to toxic, all-consuming love. “baby’s out of luck again,” however, is the title track of the eight song project, which will be out in August via Nettwerk.

april june is a Russian singer-songwriter, living between New York and Madrid, and in her spare time is on a mission to consume all of the surreal media she can get her hands on. Inspired by a plethora of cult-classic films and somber songstresses like Stevie Nicks and Lana Del Rey, it’s a feat that every influence can be potently felt in her music. Mastering the line between dark and light, “baby’s out of luck again” is comfortable in its melancholia and evokes a glimmering allure of the unknown, both ominous and inviting.

Not only is she inspired by film, but TV as well. She speaks about the effect The Sopranos had on her artistry, “One particular episode, where Tony engages in peyote-fueled gambling in Las Vegas, particularly stands out. This insight challenges the notion of ‘making your own luck,’ urging acceptance of fate and embracing the inevitable.”

Accompanying the title-track single is its striking music video directed by Marco Braia. Inspired by the dreamy masterpiece that is David Lynch’s Mullholland Drive, we’re transported back and forth between realism and mystery—a teetering line that is also captured in the underlying music. It exhibits the magic of april june’s musical persona, pulling from a bygone era but modernized just enough to embody the Gen Z spirit.

With its filtered vocals, emotion is hidden and revealed throughout “baby’s out of luck again.” It’s a secret not always readily revealed, until april june surrenders the control she’s singing about. At the end of the track, her ethereal vocals are brought forward to emphasize the simple, wistful closing sentiment, “Don’t waste your time on me, I’m already gone.”

“baby’s out of luck again” is a subconscious beauty, basking in the art of subtlety and softness while still making a strong impression on the listener. april june is a girl of many influences, but none of them bog down her own perspective. Instead, they help connect her work to the perfect audience and contribute to who she is as a person and artist.

Watch the “baby’s out of luck again” music video below: