Snail Mail's Lindsey Jordan Dismisses 'Sad Girl Rock' as Media Creation
Lindsey Jordan, the musician behind the acclaimed indie project Snail Mail, has firmly rejected the notion that she was ever part of a 'sad girl rock' movement. As she prepares to release her third album 'Ricochet', Jordan reflects on how she and other artists like Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers were grouped together by media narratives in the late 2010s.
The Media-Concocted Movement
"There's kind of a weird energy looking back," Jordan explains from her home in North Carolina. "I think all the women that were getting grouped together didn't feel that way." Despite headlines proclaiming "Rock's Not Dead, It's Ruled by Women" and celebrating "The Joy of Sad Girl Music," Jordan never identified with this manufactured movement.
She acknowledges it was "really cool that so many bands with women were getting pushed at that time" but warns that this created a false impression of progress. "Now I actually think we're on the other side," she cautions. "We're gonna see even less women in music soon, to be honest. I think we're back to like, men rock."
'Ricochet': A New Musical Direction
Jordan's new album 'Ricochet' represents a significant evolution from her earlier work. While her breakthrough album 'Lush' and follow-up 'Valentine' explored conventional themes of youth, love, and heartbreak through the lens of a world-weary Gen-Z lesbian, 'Ricochet' takes a different approach.
The 11-song record grapples with mortality and existential dread, nearly approaching what Jordan describes as a concept album. "I don't know if those exist, really, truly, anymore," she muses, "but it is capturing everything about who I think I am right now."
Standout tracks include "My Maker," which imagines waiting at an airport bar on the way to the afterlife, and "Light on Our Feet," one of the few love songs on the record. "I was trying to step out of having that just be my shtick," Jordan explains of moving beyond relationship-focused songwriting.
Personal Struggles and Public Scrutiny
The album's themes connect deeply to Jordan's personal experiences, particularly her struggles with OCD that entered a "tailspin" after watching Charlie Kaufman's film 'Synecdoche, New York'. "I accidentally developed a pretty severe OCD thing about dying from that movie," she reveals.
Jordan also addresses the public speculation about her personal life, particularly surrounding a lyric on 'Valentine' that referenced a 45-day rehab stay in November 2020. "I wasn't there for drugs or alcohol," she clarifies with visible frustration. "I was there because some gnarly stuff happened in my life, and I was needing some intervention."
The resulting "substance conversation" around her career has been particularly challenging. "Part of me really wishes I never put that lyric in, because it caused so much trouble for me, honestly," she admits.
Navigating Modern Music Industry Pressures
Jordan expresses discomfort with the current state of the music industry and social media landscape. While she's temporarily returned to Instagram to promote 'Ricochet', she largely avoids social media platforms. "You're getting so much of people's marketing; it makes me feel like I can't think straight," she says.
Despite these challenges, Jordan maintains an infectious enthusiasm and earnestness. At 26, with a decade of professional music behind her, she reflects: "I think I'm at a really good age to be a rock star, and I've made a lot of mistakes already."
Looking Forward with Perspective
Remarkably, Jordan has found peace with the very film that once triggered her OCD spiral. She recently rewatched 'Synecdoche, New York' and found it comforting rather than distressing. "If I know I'm terrified of mortality, and terrified of wasting my life, the worst thing I could possibly do would be sabotage it all," she explains.
While 'Ricochet' was born from difficult experiences, Jordan assures there's "no danger anymore of re-entering that whirlwind" of obsessive morbidity. The album represents both personal growth and artistic evolution for an artist who has consistently defied easy categorization.
'Ricochet' releases on March 27th through Matador Records, with Snail Mail scheduled to perform at London's Electric Ballroom on June 25th.
