I feel a renaissance of soft indie coming, and tiny toy cities of SoCal is hot on the button. This band comes from old members of the group danijordan (featuring its namesake, Dani) as well as new friends, and is technically a continuation of the old band rather than something completely new. For example: Its name comes from a song Dani wrote and released on her first EP back in 2020. Also, the band’s upcoming single “glass” may or may not be a second take of a danijordan demo from 2024. We’ll see when that one comes out later in October.
Anyway, this article is about the single “puppy teeth”, the second track from tiny toy cities, and it delivers a soft indie ballad for the ages. It reminds me of Ra Ra Riot in its combination of voices, its inclusion of a single violin as a massive part of the band, and its ability to catch you off guard with a sudden shift in the vibe. Closer to the end of the song, “puppy teeth” takes on a bit of a headbanger vibe, with a wave of distortion washing over the chorus and everything picking up in intensity just a touch. It’s like having a cute little dog snuggling against you and gnawing on your arm, and then suddenly it bites just hard enough to break skin.
Dani’s squeakier voice pairs with the baritone of background vocalist (and guitarist) Aidan in the chorus to create a haunting harmony. Upon first listen, you might think that Dani has a cheery voice, one more associated with the twee and posi-pop subgenres. But then she drops a line like “I never thought I’d make it past the age of sixteen”, and your heart falls directly into your kneecaps. The song – as inferred by its title – is about not knowing how to grow up, after either childhood trauma or loss, because of either deep-seated anxiety or grief, or because you thought you would have left the world long because you had to become an adult in it.
Folks, this song hits me where I live. After listening to this one through for the first time, I had to take a breath. It’s going to sit with me for a while.
I implore you to listen to “puppy teeth” below. And keep an eye out for the band’s next single “glass” and their full-length soft animal, both dropping later this month.
Written by Will Sisskind
