Philine Sonny and Miya Folick's “Shame” Is Dynamic and Vulnerable Feminine Rage
Photo: Marvin Contessi
Rising indie rock darlings Philine Sonny and Miya Folick have joined forces for their bold new single “Shame,” in which they release an honored rage rooted in an eerily universal experience. Sent to Miya from Philine, the two young artists immediately connected on how the track unleashes real-life traumas through its stream-of-consciousness style. The raw and unforgiving lyrics are matched by its nontraditional and intense production, making this collaboration naturally impactful.
The magic of “Shame” is that it shines a light on valid frustrations so common they usually feel redundant to complain about. Its heavy drums and dramatic guitar produce an intensity that makes the listener feel seen, which is how the two female artists felt when reaching a collaboration. Folick recalls, “I really related to the emotions that Sonny conveys in ‘Shame,’ and I was honored to get to sing (and scream) on it." This bonded Sonny to the song even more, describing that Folick “supported me in my message as I think she understood the kind of deeply rooted feeling that comes with not being a cis-man in the world.”
In “Shame,” listeners are treated to two completely unique vocal tones that somehow perfectly complement each other. From the start of the track, both Sonny and Folick’s voices are heavy with the burdens they describe as the track immediately rejects traditional structure. There’s a sonic release not even 15 seconds in, throwing listeners headfirst into a sea of complex emotions explored through this nostalgic rock journey. As Sonny sings the haunting chant “My body is yours,” we hear Folick’s muffled screams in the background. These screams continue throughout the track as a constant reminder of the inescapable experience “Shame” conveys.
As the track progresses, their voices become increasingly impassioned and the production more frantic. The last minute embodies an unsettling dissonance as the two chant a powerful outro on generational toxicity; “What our fathers have done / What our brothers become,” they sing. It’s a spine-chilling end to this vigorous song, defying expectations while still resonating with the masses.
Philine Sonny released her debut EP Invader in March, while Miya Folick released her sophomore LP Roach last year. These two prolific songwriters shine in their unique perspectives, which perfectly feed into the innate risk-taking sound and inescapable message of "Shame."
Listen to "Shame" below:
