The breast pump was waiting for Meg Remy at her Toronto home when she returned from the hospital with her twins. A friend had given it to her, even though Remy wasn't initially sure if she'd use the machine. But with two newborns to feed, she charged it up, flipped the switch - and out came a guttural womp.
"The minute I heard it, I was like, 'What is this fucking sound?" says Remy, 37, bandleader and creative force behind the always-inventive, always-evolving pop outfit U.S. Girls. She recorded the pump's singular pulse and sampled it for "Pump," the final song on U.S. Girls' new album, Bless This Mess. The song's verses are basically a "straight-up reportage of my experience in the hospital," as Remy recounts a conversation with a night nurse; a second-half vamp distills the thoughts that ran through her head as she spent hours hooked to the pump. "Bodies, birth, death, machines," she repeats, a riddle of human connectivity.
"That would really be my only time alone, pumping milk multiple times a day," Remy says. "I'd sit and think, 'What the fuck am I doing right now? Why does it seem that we all need machines to teach us how to do something we inherently know how to do?"
This story is from the January 2023 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2023 edition of RollingStone India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
anumitanadesan
The singer-songwriter talks about her first Malayalam film song, her upcoming debut abum and working across genres and languages
amrit ramneath
Understanding the interplay between abiding by tradition and progress is no new feat for this 25-year-old composer
yashraj
With chart-topping collaborations with seasoned veterans, this rapper has consistently been in the conversations of industry observers
dǝbzee
The 'Malabari Banger' hitmaker shares exclusive insights on his upcoming projects, life, and his vision for the future of music in India
taba chake
The Arunachal Pradesh-based singer-song-writer discusses how his latest song \"Kahani\" reflects the power of love songs.
ranj x clifr
The Bengaluru singer-composer and producer duo may not be done with hip-hop, but they are venturing into pop, R&B and Tamil songs next
RESHAPING THE FUTURE OF MUSIC
How digital collectibles, especially for live events, have a tremendous potential
Evnne On 'Un: Seen,' Their 'Seen,' And 'Unseen' Sides
The Band Discusses How A Setback Early In Their Career Spurred Them On And How They Fused Those Experiences With Their Sound In Their Second Mini Album, ‘Un: Seen
kayan
Between fandoms and aesthetic-setting live shows, artist Ambika Nayak talks about wanting to put out an album
anoushka maskey
Taking her “self-organized” Sunny Side Tour across the country, the Sikkim-origin artist is prioritizing consistent releases and exploring bossa nova next