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Photo: Vasso Vu

"Cheerleader" arrives as the newest single from the incomparable Ashnikko and exposes the ridiculousness of modern beauty standards by juxtaposing the stereotypical conception of the prototypical pretty, popular, and picture-perfect cheerleader with bloody, violent imagery. The track is a siren song warping the infamous cheer from the opening scene of the early 2000's movie Bring It On into a critique of our cultural obsession with perfection.

The single opens with a haunting blend of warped vocalizations, synths, and beats, adding a sense of danger and malevolence to the short but brutal track. Ashnikko wastes no time describing her predicament of having to put up a front and pick herself up when she's beaten down. In the pre-chorus, the instrumentation takes an unsettling turn as she admits to having to "Feed the beast unbroken dreams."

The insanely catchy chorus goes off on the leering, judgemental entities that make up the status quo and what they peddle in the industry and society. On lyrics like, "Hatе me 'cause I'm beautiful, bitch, I don't like you either," and "Honey, I'm the lead role, you don't even feature," Ashnikko steps on the throats of those who want to belittle her and her talent.

"It's twisting this perfect cheerleader into a monstrosity. It's commentary on the need to be fuckable to be commercially viable, and I really do feel that pressure," shares Ashnikko. "It's so tiring and played out. No matter how much logic I've built up in my head, there's still some carnal part of my brain that says, 'You have to be fuckable to sell this music, bitch!' It's draining on my spirit and makes me feel like I have literal car exhaust in my brain."

"Cheerleader" follows previous releases "Possession of a Weapon," "Worms," and "You Make Me Sick!," which are set to appear on Ashnikko's forthcoming debut album, WEEDKILLER, set to release August 25. She will also be heading out on a world tour later this year to celebrate the release of WEEDKILLER.

Listen to "Cheerleader" below: