Words by Emma Hug Rosenstein / Photo by Isabelle Fama
New York City-based band partygirl is releasing their latest single, “fine, fine fine,” today, January 31st. partygirl creates music with an eclectic mix of strings, saxophone, and keys, alongside bass, guitar, and drums. The group consists of Pagona Kytzidis (vocals, keys, guitar), Fran Pastore (guitar), Claire Lin Jenkins (violin), Jenna Love (saxophone), Andrew Jordan (bass), and Jonathan Ashley (drums) who together fuse classic rock, baroque elements, and impressive vocal dynamics within each of their songs.
The band explains, “‘fine, fine, fine’ depicts emotional numbness and the resulting performance one must put on in order to pretend everything is okay.” The track begins with a guitar riff backed by a sporadic drum beat. This beginning feels almost like foreshadowing, leaving the listener waiting for the beat to drop. Together, the band falls into a steady rhythm with a consistent full-band riff that repeats throughout the single. The vocal layering before the pre-chorus is especially attention grabbing, which is then followed with several arpeggios from the saxophone and a coordinating melody from the violin and guitar.
Here and elsewhere, partygirl find a harmonious blend between highlighting Kytzidis’ vocals and lyrics, while leaving space to call attention to the masterfully-crafted instrumentals from the six-piece band. Having honed their brand of sophisticated songwriting, the band work together as a tight-knit unit, consistently leaving the listener at the edge of their seat wondering what will come next.
Pictured above, from left to right, Jonathan Ashley (he/him), Francesca Pastore (she/her), Pagona Kytzidis (she/her), Claire Lin Jenkins (she/her), and Andrew Jordan (he/him). Jenna Love (she/her), having joined in April 2024, is not pictured.
“fine, fine, fine” is available on all streaming platforms, alongside a music video directed by Brooklyn-based photographer, videographer, music writer, and filmmaker Sydney Tate. partygirl can be followed on Spotify, Instagram, and their website.