“RULES" was one of the first demos I heard from Waking April and it immediately jumped out as something I wanted to have the opportunity to work on. From first listen it was obvious the song would be hugely important to the record and we steered pretty closely to that recording for the album version. I really loved that the lyrics were capable of being brutal and direct and still feel playful in moments.” - Producer and Artist Mark Watrous (The Shins, Loudermilk)
Waking April’s “Rules” is a cathartic clap-back against all the double standards, expectations, and fears put upon women. Bethany McKee adds lyrical nuance, relating to women’s experiences from all backgrounds, including her own. From the first drum beat to the last chorus, “Rules” is defiant and in your face with an aggressive groove, dirty bass lines and layered synths.
“This is one of those songs that came spilling out as soon as I sat down to write it. Alex wrote the instrumental sketch and the chorus hook, “I don’t think I like these rules,” and I was immediately flooded with memories of all the rules I was taught as a girl. I, like every woman I know, was taught to constantly be on guard. We are told that not only is our safety our own responsibility, but that if we are victims of violence, harassment, or disrespect, we must immediately prove that we have done everything in our power to prevent it before being taken seriously,” Bethany explained. She continues, “In my own upbringing, this was coupled with the extra religious pressure to “not cause my brothers in Christ to stumble.” I have been asked to prove that my clothing was not immodest when a man twenty years older than me complained to church elders that I was a distraction. My sexual purity, and therefore my worth as a person, has been compared to any number of inanimate objects including but not limited to: cow’s milk, a gift wrapped present (better not tear that wrapping paper!), a fragile glass ornament, toothpaste (can’t put it back in the tube) and duct tape. It took me many years of self reflection and a healthy dose of defiance to unlearn the lessons that were so firmly ingrained in my view of myself. My sincere hope is that this song will offer some catharsis to other women who are going through something similar, but even more so that we will finally say enough is enough, that we will grow past this as a society, and that if I have a daughter, she will not be able to relate to these lyrics at all”
Bethany’s band partner and husband, Alex remembers, “Musically, “Rules” is ‘lean and mean’, there’s not a ton of elements or instruments involved. But the instrumentation that is present is robust and purposeful. We’re so proud of how it came out, the song just hits, doesn’t let up and then leaves early. It’s exactly the right vehicle for Bethany’s lyrics. The drum groove came from chopping samples and manipulating the beat until it did exactly what we wanted it to. The working title was “that drum loop I like” for the longest time. When we got into the studio, we re-amped the drum samples into Mark’s analog gear and it made them nastier, punchier, and at the same time warmer. If the drums are the engine of this track, the bassline is the heart. It’s such a simple part but there are a lot of nuances that make the sound very specific and dialed in.”
Drenched in vintage synths, soaring vocals and driving drum grooves, married Electro-pop duo Waking April take their musical cues from the likes of Phantogram, Chvrches, and Broods while creating something distinct and fresh. After releasing a string of singles and EPs, in 2023 they signed with indie label Polychromatic Records from Nashville TN, and will release their first full length album produced by Mark Watrous later in 2024. The band has toured across the United States, and been generating buzz with their latest release of “Siren,” a dancy feminist anthem and their first release with Polychromatic Records With several releases under their belt, and more on the way, Alex and Bethany have never been more excited to share their music with their energetic live show, hitting the road to support their new songs. Waking April's story is just getting started, and you are invited to tune in and be an important part of what comes next for Alex and Bethany.
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