I was scrolling through the endless abyss of recommended music when a name so gloriously unique (ahem, Winnetka Bowling League) caught my eye. I clicked, prepared for anything… and then, magic. “Sha La La,” the latest single from this LA trio and from the opening notes I was head over heels.
The song washes over you in a wave of unabashedly indie-pop instrumentation, reminiscent of sunny California days and carefree drives with the windows down. But beneath the deceptively cheerful melodies lies a melancholic undercurrent. Matthew Koma‘s voice is imbued with a touch of wistfulness. The occasional use of vocal effects adds a dreamy haze, further amplifying the song’s introspective nature
However, it’s the lyrics that truly steal the show cunningly exploring the universal human tendency to romanticize the past, airbrushing away the imperfections that inevitably accompanied those “highlight reel” moments. We’ve all been there, yearning for a time we can never truly recapture, and Koma perfectly encapsulates that bittersweet pang of nostalgia.
The accompanying video, directed by the band’s longtime collaborator Zack Sekuler, perfectly complements the song’s themes of romanticized nostalgia. Winnetka Bowling League stroll through a curated Americana dreamscape, filled with record stores, convenience shops, thrift stores, and of course, a classic bowling alley. Cruising through Los Angeles in a vintage maroon Mercedes, the past and present blur together. The palpable sense of longing for a simpler time is beautifully captured, leaving you with a bittersweet ache in your heart.
Don’t expect chart-topping histrionics with “Sha La La.” This beautifully crafted piece of alt-pop lingers long after the final note fades, its relatable themes leaving a bittersweet echo in your ears., Just be warned, it might leave you reaching for your old photo albums yearning for simpler days.
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