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Photo by Maya Holt

Bay Area rock trio Crooked Teeth continue their prolific output of hard-hitting alt anthems with their new single "Drink Bleach." The track is a high-energy burst of frustration from vocalist/guitarist Emma Oakley in response to unrealistic standards placed upon women. But ultimately, it is an ode to self-acceptance and self-love.

The single opens with buzzing instrumentals that catapult the listener into a sonic space full of boiling rage. Oakley further sets the tone with her warm vocals, singing, "I don't owe you joy/ I don't owe you peace/ I don't have to smile/ When you ask me." Then, as things boil over, the explosive chorus bursts into a flurry of angsty, passionate instrumentation full of bombastic guitar riffs, thrumming bass lines, and crashing percussion. Oakley says she would rather "drink bleach" than play pretend and be someone else's puppet.

"'Drink Bleach' is a song that came to me in a moment of intense anger and frustration," says Emma Oakley. "I have been asked to smile by random men and referred to as having RBF, and I was tired of feeling like I had to change myself to fit into someone else's idea of what was acceptable. For years, I had been pressured to be more feminine, more approachable, more malleable - to take up less space in the world and to constantly mold myself to the expectations of others. Writing this song with some amazing and supportive friends was a cathartic experience, a chance to rebel against every unrealistic standard that has been placed upon us as women. I wanted to make a statement about the pressure to be constantly joyful or pleasant, to always put on a smile for the sake of others."

Crooked Teeth is fresh off a banner year in which they received consistent support from SiriusXM's Octane and performed at So What? Festival, Welcome to Rockville, and Aftershock festivals. The band is gearing up for a busy summer of touring, including upcoming dates with Brick + Mortar, Killboy, and Epitaph Records' THICK.

Be sure to check out Crooked Teeth's latest single, "Drink Bleach," today!