Melbourne punk/alt-rockers Catholic Guilt return w “Talking Fake,” the band’s boldest/mature recording to date. Musically, “Talking Fake” sees the band step away from previous releases to find themselves moving into a more pop rock space. Lyrically the single mirrors the frustration people can endure whilst living in the reality of a fractured relationship.
With upcoming tours in Australia and the US, and an appearance at Fest 20 this Fall, Catholic Guilt are primed to take the next step in the bands already ascending career.
“‘Talking Fake’ was inspired by reaching that all too familiar point in a relationship, where the lines of communication have completely broken down. Both sides want to talk it out, but neither can work out what to say, or how to say it, so they don’t say anything and instead live in the comfort of discomfort, paralyzed by anxiety and the fear that if they do start to talk, it might end up being their final conversation. It is an appeal to both sides of the relationship to put all the placating, all of the excuses and the unending awkwardness aside and just speak honestly and truthfully with one another. To quit “talking fake” and just “give it to me straight”. Whatever happens on the other side of that conversation has to be better than living in a state of constant fracture.“
Further lyrical notes.
“A lot of our songs are quite direct in their meanings, but in this instance I made a conscious choice not to define the nature of the relationship or relationships I’m singing about in ‘Talking Fake’. My lived experience is that these kinds of critical communicative breakdowns can happen in relationships of all kinds. So I’ve left it up to the listener to define it. If someone hears it and can relate it to a relationship they’ve been in or perhaps one they are in now, then they’re right, and I really hope they find a resolution to their conflict."
Commentary provided by Director Dia Taylor:
“‘Talking Fake’ has been one of my favourite music videos to have made thus far as the story behind it is one that hits home. So very often we put on a fake smile, say everything is alright, and
keep pushing through, just so we don’t end up facing the truth that no, things are not okay and things need to change. This can be on both a relationship level – romantic and platonic alike, as
well as a larger, non-personalised level.”
“My mother once said that ‘The only sure thing in life is change’ which can be daunting to a lot of us, but sometimes change is the hardest and greatest thing that we need in our lives.
I wanted to give this video a fantastical feel to it with the characters being thrown into an alternative world of their first happy day together. Taking inspiration from director Marjane
Satrapi’s 2014 film ‘The Voices’ and ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ (2004) by director Michel Gondry, The fantasy world is eerily familiar yet something is wrong.”
“We cast limited extras and used them in as many shots as we could (you’ll notice the double up at times), directing them to be over the top and then completely lifeless.
David’s cinematography helped to create the beautiful colourful world, and Amelia and Tom’s performances nailed the differences in reality and fantasy.”
