Singles Spotlight:
Trophy Wife – “So Hard”

Hello reader,

How are you? Thanks for checking out SWT.

Today, we’re excited to discuss another group, Trophy Wife, that has quickly launched into the scene, making a name for itself over the past few years, not only in Boston, where they were formed, but also in Brooklyn, where they’re based, and beyond the northeastern US with a headlining tour. The indie rock trio was formed in the DIY basement while attending the formative Berklee College of Music in Boston.

The band was created by lead vocalist and songwriter McKenzie Iazzetta, and features Christian Pace on bass and Michael Martelli on drums. The single’s press release that put the band on my own radar and set the stage for what I was about to hear, “With the 2024 release of their debut album Get Ugly, McKenzie Iazzetta’s confessional lyrics, Christian Pace’s riff-like bass lines, and Michael Martelli’s pounding drums transform raw diary entries into cathartic anthems for the parts of ourselves that are best swept under the rug.”

The press release elaborated on what you’re about to hear while listening to the song, “So Hard,” stating, “So Hard” arrives nearly a year after their debut album Get Ugly — a raw, triumphant nod to ’90s angst that blends Iazzetta’s haunting vocals and unflinching lyricism with the band’s heavy-hitting, head-banging melodies. Nestled somewhere between the blistering alt-country of Wednesday and the vulnerable confessions of Blondshell, “So Hard” asks: ‘What am I willing to give up in order to get what I want?’. It’s about making peace with the parasite that’s been eating you alive – an olive branch extended from the bedroom floor. Iazzetta’s seductive whisper and evocative twang are front and center, a signature of what sets Trophy Wife apart.” As a fan of both Blondshell and Wednesday, and of the music they’ve introduced to the world over the past few years, I was excited to listen.

Iazzetta shares, “So Hard is about wishing things could be as simple as they are in your head, and the bargaining you’re willing to do to get what you want. Is all the compromise worth the crumb of the fantasy you’re left with?”

The first time I listened to “So Hard,” I was hooked by the opening guitar licks followed quickly by Iazzetta’s vocals. That soon. Her delivery, tone, and the lyrics felt familiar and comforting in a good way. Vulnerable, honest. Supportive without trying too hard to be. I needed to shed some spotlight on the band and this song. So here we are again, sharing another excellent Singles Spotlight. The melody had some jangle to its guitar sound, paired nicely with the thumping drum work. The noise built up to a crescendo, almost creating that wall of sound. Overall, the melody felt versatile and not tied down, like it could fit in either the past, say the 90s, 2000s, or present indie rock or pop. I dig it. And you will as well, listener. I clearly see where the Wednesday and Blondshell mentions come from. Trophy Wife is doing their own thing for their own fanbase, but fans of those artists should definitely like this. Ella Williams, aka Squirrel Flower, also comes to mind while listening to this song. If any of these artists are new to you, check them out after you finish this Spotlight. All three had albums on my Best 50 Albums of 2023. 

Without further ado, the video that alternates between indoor and outdoor settings, offering a great deal of contrasting imagery for the song “So Hard” from Trophy Wife’s YouTube channel:

(All credits and rights to Trophy Wife)

Alex M Theel

Co-Founder, Reviewer, Content Creator, Business side, Editor at Scummy Water Tower Productions | Web

Scummy Water Tower Productions co-founder, reviewer, business manager, and editor. Thank you for visiting this site: scummywatertower.com, and YouTube for Water Tower Sessions!
Contact me: alex@scummywatertower.com