Public Appeal by Pikoi
Montreal pop provocateur Public Appeal steps into her spotlight with new single “On The Scene,” out now via Arbutus Records.
Co-produced with bounce2, the track is a dizzying electro romp that cements Public Appeal as an avatar of indie sleaze’s next wave. Clocking in at just over two minutes, the avant-pop artist flips between slick rap flows and candy-sweet coos, channelling the swagger of Kreayshawn and early Ke$ha. For those tapped into Montreal’s underground, her ascent comes as no surprise — she’s previously enlisted the likes of Babynymph and Ayesha Erotica to sharpen her sound. But this release puts her star on full display.
Said Public Appeal of “On The Scene”:
“I wrote the song two years ago when I was freshly 19 – it's one of those songs that encapsulates feeling like a teenager but having the freedom of an adult with endless possibilities. Even though the song has a fun and playful manner, it also deals with emotions of confusion and insecurity, wanting to disappear and create a new life for myself through a new lens. ‘On The Scene’ is the typical 19-year-old city living.”
Filmed at infamous Montreal haunt Système, the single’s music video captures Public Appeal in full debutante form — decked out in a chunky belt and vintage white frames, strutting through the club in a late-aughts fever dream. The footage flits between chopped-up party scenes and self-assured bathroom confessionals; flash by flash, she’s announced her arrival. With mismatched fashion and irreverent confidence, Public Appeal rises beyond the revival.
Public Appeal
Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify
Rebecca Judd is the Editorial & Operations Lead of Also Cool Mag. She is currently based in Ottawa.
Related Articles
