Welcome to Singled Out! where we ask artists to tell us the inside story of their latest single. Today The Constellations frontman Elijah tells us about "Felicia" from their new album "Southern Gothic," which comes out next week. We now turn it over to Elijah for the story:I wrote "Felicia" in the car headed back home after a long day at the studio. While we were writing this record I would go through periods where I'd write 4 or 5 songs a day. Obviously only a few made it on the record but "Felicia" was one I went in the next day and insisted that we work on. I explained to Ben Allen, our producer, I wanted to do a funky soul song, sung by an Iggy Pop character, that bordered a hip hop feel. He looked at me crazy and said " I love it , let's lay it down". That was kinda our writing process.
Someone would come in with an idea, we would all tear it apart, rebuild it and lay it down. "Felicia" is a loosely based on a girl I know very well if you know what I mean but also just represents the power that women have in general when they are comfortable with their sexuality. When a woman is unafraid of expressing what they feel sexually, whether it be playing into a man's fantasy or creating their own fantasy, there is something so powerful about that confidence. I love women and think there is something beautiful about each and everyone of them. I'm amazed by them and this was just a kind of dedication to them.
We started with a simple bass line I laid down on the keyboard and went from there. I was really lucky to have a group of talented musicians with me in the studio. I've never learned chords or keys I just write what I feel works and Ben and the others would break it down into chords and keys for me and jazz it up. I never expected it to be a single because it is a very provocative song but everyone really reacted to the song and at the end of the day rock n roll is still all about sexuality and "Felicia" embodies that idea. Hell, my big brother's pastor's wife loves it and plays it all the time. That's gotta say something right?
Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself and learn more about the album
- right here!
Share this article on Twitter