Why can’t I be content
With the way that things are
I’m always pushing me
Pushing too hard
Now I’m feeling interrupted
By a brick wall
My favorite blister
Diving rag doll
Sandpaper fall
I’ll tell you something
I’ll tell you something to believe
It’s not all or nothing
I’ll tell you something
It’s like I’m stuck in a bad dream
Without anyone listening
It’s harder to do the same things
It’s like I’m stuck in a bad dream
I’ll tell you something
I’ll tell you something to believe
It’s not all or nothing
I’ll tell you something
Baby please
Take it easy
about
It’s an irony of human existence that the things we’re drawn to also tend to cause discomfort, the pleasure and the pain frequently existing side-by-side.
This juxtaposition is at the forefront of “Blister,” the brand new single from Nectar — a track that continues the band’s tradition of pairing upbeat melodies with melancholic lyrics by exploring the toll incurred while doing something you love (“my favorite blister”).
Following the release of their debut album, Knocking at the Door, via Infinity Cat in April 2018, Nectar embarked on a headlining tour and have provided support for Great Grandpa, Stef Chura, Rational Anthem and worlds greatest dad, among others.
But during a break from life on the road this past fall — Kamila Glowacki, Nectar’s primary songwriter, vocalist and guitarist — found herself in the hospital with a surgically repaired forearm after a skateboarding accident shattered her ulna and radius.
The injury was a major disruption to Glowacki’s day-to-day routine, but she took the downtime as an opportunity to start working on new music and soon the band — rounded out by guitarist Aaron Shults, bassist Isabel Skidmore, and drummer Jake Mott — found themselves back in the studio.
Lyrically, Glowacki drew inspiration from Annette Lemieux and Barbara Kruger, two visual artists known for their bold, arresting images. As such, their influence permeates “Blister” — an image of a painted brick wall by Lemieux appears in the line "Now I'm feeling interrupted by a brick wall," while the assertiveness of Kruger's work emerges in the chorus, where Glowacki tells listeners "I'll tell you something to believe / It's not all or nothing" while delivering her most confident vocal performance to date.
Channeling the likes of Charly Bliss and Colleen Green with its riff-driven velocity and hummable harmonies, “Blister” serves as a reminder to not push yourself too hard, find gratitude in the small things, and do everything with intention.