Imposter syndrome — self-doubt brought upon by an irrational fear of being “exposed” as not appearing as good as you seem — is the subject of “RAM”, the latest single from Minneapolis indie outfit Antlers Motel.
Instrumentally, “RAM” is a two and a half minute walk in the park on a glorious summer day. Shimmering guitars augmented by a joyful piano line stir memories of ‘sixties ’60s pop music. It’s as easy as listening gets, the kind of tune that makes you want to forget all your cares, crack open a cold one, and appreciate the sunshine.
This proves to be a deceptive pleasantry, as the single’s true nature is made plain in the lyrics, which detail a groundswell of anxiety simmering underneath the tune’s sunny disposition. Telltale feelings of inadequacy, worries of deceiving people close to you, and the fear of failure are laid bare, with the chorus getting longer as the negative thoughts continue to spiral. The backing vocals that appear at the song’s climax create almost a claustrophobic atmosphere, and at this point the sun has well and truly had the curtains pulled on it.
This juxtaposition between sound and subject matter succeeds in making “RAM” a sadly all-too relatable listen for anyone who’s ever needed to put on a brave face. But this is just the hook the song needs to pull you in to press Play over and over. Take a listen to “RAM” below.
Written by Matt Ward
