Glasgow singer-songwriter Ellijai turns up the flirtation on new single ‘Skinny Boyfriend’, a punchy slice of synth-charged indie rock dedicated to that particular kind of person who barely has to lift a finger to completely take over your thoughts. Inspired by an unlikely heartthrob with “all bones, attitude and effortless rock-star energy”, the track embraces the excitement, lust and slight chaos of an all-consuming attraction.
Sharp guitars lead the charge, with electronic textures adding extra bite without ever overpowering the track’s indie-rock foundations. There’s a touch of Yeah Yeah Yeahs in its wiry, restless energy, while Ellijai’s powerful vocal and the huge melodic chorus lean closer to Paramore territory. That chorus is the real payoff: catchy, immediate and made for singing along at full volume. Most importantly, ‘Skinny Boyfriend’ has the attitude to match its subject. There’s something wonderfully scrappy about it all, conjuring images of messy bedrooms, battered guitars and hot, sweaty little venues where being effortlessly cool is practically a prerequisite.
The accompanying video taps straight into that flirtatious energy. Performing in a darkened room illuminated by a spotlight, Ellijai commands the camera in leopard-print tights with little more than a chair, guitar and amp around her, while occasional appearances from a mysterious guitar-playing guy bring the song’s fixation into the frame. Simple, playful and knowingly cool, it captures exactly what ‘Skinny Boyfriend’ is selling: sometimes someone has inexplicable rock-star energy, and apparently there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.
