Remi Wolf’s newest single “Quiet On Set” feels like lollipops, kaleidoscopic sunglasses, and sun loungers under the sun.
Beyond the typical colorful rhythms and unexpected rhymes, the newest double-singles (the other being “Grumpy Old Man”) establish the grounding tone of her pending debut album by creating a more concrete narrative. With repetitive motifs like the looped intro that remind listeners of Disney soundtracks from the ‘90s and the kiddy, adorably absurd monologue at the end of the track, we are left eager to find out more from the yet-to-release album.
“Hey guys, should I Postmates Chuck-E-Cheese? / Wait, ain’t no Chuck-E-Cheese in Los Feliz / Wait, there ain’t no steeze if there ain’t grease / Unless you order that Sugarfish sushi!” For someone who has never stepped foot in the neighborhoods of Los Angeles, Wolf’s lyrics probably make zero sense; for someone who lives in Los Feliz, however, her lyrics vividly present a scene where street vendors with trunk-loads of fruits and snacks contrasting against the muted-color-furnished, influencer-favorite restaurant chains. Though not a LA native, Wolf is never afraid to throw in an excessive amount of creative and unexpected rhymes, in order to accurately present the life of a young working artist and the lives of many others living in the city.
On the surface, the track has little to nothing to do with being on a production set — unless the grand scheme of Los Angeles were to be considered as one. Unlike other LA-based musicians, Wolf’s portrayal of the city has always been unusually bright, with just the right touch of nonchalance. Just like her previous releases, “Quiet On Set” describes the mundane through a retro lens using a vibrant and vivid melody. Wolf’s music feels timeless for a reason: she is a genius when it comes to fusing funky bridges to a Game Boy, Y2K-like thematic looping track. Her music is unique in the sense that nostalgia has never been deployed in the same way before.
“Quiet On Set” is surely an interesting standalone track, but it also creates quite an interesting antithesis with its kiddiness to the cowboy-echo that is “Grumpy Old Man.” What’s even more exciting is what kind of a thematic universe/formulated storyline would Wolf be able to create through her first full-length project, and how wildly bizarre yet comforting that storyline could be.
