Indonesian duo Stars & Rabbit reflect on isolation in the midst of a global pandemic with their new single ‘Merry Alone‘. Accompanied by a beautiful animated film, which features a character marooned in a candy coloured seashore, it’s an ode to human contact and connectedness.
As you might expect from Star & Rabbit, who are huge in their home country, ‘Merry Alone’ is twee indie-pop perfection. However, Elda Suryani’s otherworldly vocal and Didit Saad’s gentle, swooning guitar give the song a bittersweet quality too, evoking the sadness and longing that enforced solitude brought for so many of us.
The song’s dream-like quality is cemented further through its lyrics, which ask “would you be, would you be, merry alone with me?”. It all feels beautifully magical, helping you to escape from the chaos and trauma of the last few months to a land of make-believe. It’s the musical equivalent of a big cosy cuddle with the people you love most, and I love it.
On Different Days, the upcoming new album from Stars & Rabbit, is out 25th June via Trapped Animal Records.
Vic Conway
Get In Her Ears 
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