By Giliann Karon
Sarah Tudzin, the boundless creative behind L.A.’s illuminati hotties, has delved into her endless bag of tricks with a new single called “MMMOOOAAAAAYAYA,” this time, coupling twangy guitar strumming with her signature acidic, biting timbre. But don’t mistake the nasally vocals or the nonsensical track name for thoughtlessness — as with much of her past work, here, she demands space in a male-dominated industry and churns out a fiery, electric track, complete with cascading buckets of slime.
“Somebody told me my music is too ‘CUTE’ to take seriously. So, I wrote them a love letter. Hope they’re laughing their patoots off,” Tudzin says of her newest, angriest single, which serves as a vessel for her suppressed resentment towards her former label and the industry as a whole. “You think I wanna be a part of/Every self-appointed startup?/Every brand-approval markup?,” she screams, addressing the need to say ‘yes’ to every contract, every brand deal, and every media appearance. As she explains, though, if you squeeze out every ounce of creativity to turn a profit, you ultimately have nothing left to give.
In the track’s accompanying music video, Tudzin’s newfound freedom becomes palpable. Wearing only a sports bra, she sings while facing the camera. She knows the focus is on her, so she places angry intention behind every twitch and movement. All the while, the video plays tribute to D’Angelo’s iconic “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” while “demanding space for the subversion of male sexuality and flipping the dynamic of power,” as Tudzin reflects.
However, a new release alone can’t quench Tudzin’s thirst for new creative outlets. In a press release, she also unveiled her brand new label, Snack Shack Tracks (in collaboration with Hopeless Records.)
For those who haven’t been following the drama, illuminati hotties’ last mixtape was equal parts much-anticipated art and a contractual obligation: though just as bubbly and dynamic as Kiss Yr Frenemies (2018), Sarah Tudzin and co released FREE I.H: This Is Not The One You've Been Waiting For (2020) to fulfill the exit agreement of her former label, Tiny Engines, which had become embroiled in scandals over financial mismanagement.
In a statement, Tudzin exclaims, “With everything that has brought me to where I am, I knew that the next time around, I needed to seek support from folks who trusted me — who believed not only in illuminati hotties, but also in myself, and my curative vision as a creator at large. Hopeless is the perfect collaborator for IH and beyond. I am thrilled, grateful, and looking forward to an expansive future for the music that we’re all total nerds about!”
Watch the music video for “MMMOOOAAAAAYAYA” below, and keep up to date with illuminati hotties via their socials. [RIYL: Remember Sports, The Beths, IAN SWEET, Dehd]