D.C. punk band Ekko Astral have released their new single, “Horseglue,” via Topshelf Records. Reflecting on the fleeting attention spans that fuel corporate media, “Horseglue” chronicles lead singer Jael Holzman’s gradual slide into disillusionment following her stint covering Congress ahead of the 2024 election. In an essay, Holzman explained that “Horseglue” is a song about why she quit her job as a journalist after getting a firsthand look at what happens in the newsroom.
“‘Horseglue’ is a screeching call for moral clarity,” Holzman says. “Anything short of courage against the rise of The New Authoritarian is complicity. It is important to focus on how integral the Messengers really are, and that some of them are the 1% too. They are rich and they are happy without consequence, as a vast majority of us suffer in the shadows of the unknown.”
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The black-and-white video features the band performing with juxtaposed shots of a newspaper. At the end of the track, Holzman’s voice lingers with the refrain, singing “If it bleeds, it leads” — a news industry slogan that implies violent news stories garner more attention.
The standalone single and video mark the first release since the band’s 2024 debut album, pink balloons, and the LP’s deluxe edition titled pink balloons: popped, which was released earlier this spring. Check out the video for “Horseglue” below.
