Bingkai Karya– The trio of buddies from New York via Chicago, Horsegirl, released a new single/video, “Julie,” from their upcoming sophomore album, Phonetics On and On, scheduled for release on February 14, 2025, via Matador Records. Following the “vibrant and wild” lead single “2468” (Stereogum), “Julie” is the album’s highlight, including synth drones that complement Lowenstein’s vocals and Cheng’s avant-garde anti-solo.
Daphna Awadish Golan, an Amsterdam-based animator, animated the video in a month and a half to convey the song’s themes of migrating to a new city, winter, and unrequited love. Her animated films mostly feature animals. Golan prints each backdrop video frame and doodles with oil pastels on top.
The final composition is constructed by scanning all the frames again, with her style and tactile approach emphasizing the song’s animals.
Phonetics On and On, produced by Cate Le Bon and recorded in The Loft in Chicago, presents a blend of pop, minimalism, and playful experimentation. Horsegirl was the first time Cheng, Lowenstein, and Reece wrote music outside of their basement after moving to New York City in the fall of 2022.
When they returned to Chicago to record in January 2024 they found focus and intimacy in the studio only possible when it’s too cold outdoors. This song features violins, synths, and gamelan tiles, which Le Bon helped the group use to create bright, fresh sounds.
Horsegirl’s 11 songs experiment with space and texture while maintaining a pop song’s core, reflecting the band’s DIY culture and teamwork. Horsegirl is a group of best buddies… witnessing their affection in their eyes is always pleasant.
Phonetics On and On’s gentleness echoes throughout the record. These songs seem to have been written by the three of them. Horsegirl writes with surprising honesty about their youth and experiences. The moments of their lives.
Horsegirl will premiere her record at Metro, Chicago, on February 22 and tour the southeast and northeast U.S. in March with Free Range before touring the UK and Europe in late 2025.
