In the music video for “Ankles,” the first single from Lucy Dax's fourth studio album, the singer plays a Victorian-era damsel who seeks joy in escaping from the painting to the Gallivants around Paris. Her foil is a strict museum guard who tries to get her back to her frame.
Dacus came up with this idea as a way to reflect the push and pull between the curiosity and suppression of the song. She also said, “This song is pretty horny so I'm not going to recreate what happens.”
In the case of DACUS, the frame has become a repetitive motif. She used one in the video for the song from her second album, “Historian,” when she was a Rising Indie singer-songwriter. And she will pos for one of the album covers of her latest LP, “Forever Is a Feeling.”
“Framing is a big part of the art,” Dux said. “What do you put in the frame range? What do you fill in time? What do you put in front of people?”
When Dax realized he was writing a song about love, the form of “eternity is emotion” emerged. (She then wrote more.) It was her first solo album and her first solo album since Boygenius. The indie rock supergroup she formed with the Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker – has grown into an arena-sized Grammy-winning band. (Dacas recently revealed that Baker is one of those love songs.)
In a phone interview before taking off to Paris, Dacas shared cultural essentials that would help her meet her life. These are excerpts from the conversation.
Sunscreen
I wear sunscreen every day. After moving to Los Angeles, I started this probably a year ago. Every time people visit my house, I have sunscreen for everyone.
Robert Altman movies
Last year, me and my girlfriend chose to direct and watched two or three films and felt like they felt a sense of style. My high school film teacher showed me “Nashville.” It's very dark, very interesting, but very bright. People are talking to each other, the dialogue is more textured.
iPhone Voice Notes
If the voice memo and notes app are next to each other, you'll be really lost in terms of songwriting. When I'm busy and out, I record a simple voice memo to put the melody and lyrics together, but if I can't get any noise, I'll go into the Notes app. The final moments of the entire record are voice notes that they play “Lost Time” for the first time.
“Survivor”
I've seen 43 seasons. From season 1, seeing evolution through time is a unique experience. You see how television changes, you see how society changes. Even the way people approach cameras. Initially, no one had social media. No one was going to be an online influencer. The show feels not only interesting, but also like a history lesson.
“Healing back pain”
I have two hernia discs. For years I had to cancel tours and trips. And at one point I was bedridden for six weeks. I dumped my back once the day before the tour and went on a sofa tour. It was so public that people came out of woodworking to tell me to get this book. I swear to you: I had no flare-ups since reading it.
Lepen Pens
I have a color-coded Lepen pen pack and when I write a diary, I go in color order. Or, skip it. If I'm really mad, I use a red pen. The colour matches the tone of the way I feel.
SZA
God blesses SZA. She is one of the best songwriters working for. I've been there since “Ctrl.” I identify her with Elliot Smith. Every person who loves Elliot Smith thinks he has a one-on-one relationship with his music. Anyone who loves SZA I know is like, “SZA welcomes me.”
“Paris, Texas”
In competition as my favorite film. I know it's like “film school mates.” But that's really nothing wrong. A contemplative, character-driven film immersed in neon – they benefit 100% from it, but no one surpasses the sensitivity, complexity, nuance and eccentricity of “Paris, Texas.”
James Baldwin
Everyone should read “Next Fire.” It's necessary at school. There was a time when I read his books chronologically, and then when I finished his work I thought I would be very heartbroken, so I had to stop.
My movie camera
Julian got me a contax t2 for my birthday. If you're a guest on a person's show, who else gets them from that point of view, so do you take a picture of them and the crowd? I take it to the Joni Mitchell Show and I have a picture of her and Elton John singing together behind the scenes.
