With light, airy vocals and a pastel pink visual aesthetic, Bambii might seem sweet at first glance.
But Grace Lamerson, the 19-year-old singer-songwriter performing under the name Bambii, pens lyrics that bite, almost snarl. Under the façade of inviting instrumentals and easy, ear-catching melodies, Bambii is rolling her eyes, scoffing at the trappings and tropes of what it means to be a teen girl today. She takes these expectations and subverts them, tackling convention with a spark of sarcasm and an air of nonchalance about the whole affair.
Bambii’s latest single, out now, possesses her characteristic gritty lyricism, smoothed over with a glossy soundscape. A continuation of Bambii’s partnership with producer Zach Rodriguez, “about her'' is an indie pop-inspired exploration of being the “other woman,” set aside and kept secret until it’s convenient. The track is a lead-up to Bambii’s sophomore EP, scheduled for release later this summer.
Bambii said “about her” was conceptualized after her own experiences being the “other woman” in a relationship, but instead of pity, she finds power in the position. The lyrics radiate self-assurance and steadfast superiority — “I just want you to know, no matter how it goes, that you’ll never be better than me.”
The lyrics, sly and dripping in cynicism, came naturally, Bambii said. Channeling her knack for sarcasm and quick wit into the track’s confident protagonist, Bambii said “about her” became a vehicle to express her bolder side.
“I don’t try to write like I’m a bitch or I’m better than everyone else, but this song is very flex-y,” she said.
Juxtaposing the more sardonic subject matter are the upbeat instrumentals, which lie somewhere between the dreamy indie pop that characterized Bambii’s earlier work and the hyper-pop finding its way into the mainstream through artists like Charli XCX, Caroline Polacheck, Kim Petras and more. The track, produced by Rodriguez, was mastered by Boston-based producer Will Frenchman, with instrumental contributions on the bass and guitar from Riley Sechrest.
Anchored by a dynamic bassline elevated with shiny synths and bell tones, “about her'' combines Bambii’s established sound with some of Rodriguez’s pop influences. Though the two said their tastes differ at times, Rodriguez said their partnership is a seamless blend of their individual styles.
“We just know how to work together, especially creatively,” he said.
Bambii and Rodriguez started making music together after meeting as Buchholz High School students and have since released a handful of singles, including 2020’s “Red Corvette,” and the 2019 “Dreamache” EP. Bambii said the new instrumental direction — what Rodriguez described as “sparkly, funky pop vibes” — was indicative of the duo’s development.
“We’ve grown a lot as artists since our first EP,” she said. “Our next EP genuinely sounds a lot better.”
The accompanying video offers a similar contrast, pairing the moody undertones of “about her'' with a bright pink backdrop. Shot entirely in Atlanta, including some scenes in the Atlanta Selfie Museum, the video is a reflection of Bambii’s glittery visual aesthetic and a continuation of the track’s irony.
With the impending release of the “Tell Me Where It Hurts” EP ” Bambii and Rodriguez said they’re excited for what’s to come. As live shows make their return, Bambii said the potential for in-person events surrounding the EP is something she hopes comes to fruition.
Outside of its immediate impact, Bambii and Rodriguez have higher aspirations for the EP. The duo aims to add pop to Gainesville’s musical palette with “Tell Me Where It Hurts” and its corresponding singles– something they said is uncommon in a landscape often leaning toward indie and alternative music.
As for their content, Bambii said she and Rodriguez are in a league of their own.
“There’s no one making music like us, especially in Gainesville.”
Contact Heather Bushman at hbushman@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @hgrizzl.
Heather Bushman is a fourth-year journalism and political science student and the enterprise elections reporter. She previously wrote and edited for the Avenue desk and reported for WUFT News. You can usually find her writing, listening to music or writing about listening to music. Ask her about synesthesia or her album tier list sometime.
