The Vildes Explore Hidden Feelings on “Manicure for the Strangers”

Music is a leveler and an avenue where a lot of secrets are spilled. Sometimes it’s where people dump their frustrations, the same place people also find their comfort and the same place people uncover a whole lotta information. But thing is I’ve always suspected that some people use makeup as a weapon, and now I have proof. The Vildes, a pop-electronica trio from Norway, just dropped their second single, “Manicure for the Strangers,” and it is all about using beauty as a shield.

The band is made up of Ingvild Tafjord, Hilde Wahl, and Glenn Tvedt. Now here comes the fun part, do you know they live in different parts of Norway—Oslo, Aalesund, and Bergen, but didn’t meet in person to write the song? Well they actually wrote this whole thing online from their bedrooms and eventually finished it in Bergen, which is basically the capital of cool electronic music in Norway. So you just know this is a banger!

The song uses a manicure as a metaphor for emotional armor. Lotta the time we cover soo much in clothes, and bury too much pain, and stress underneath us. Like how we spend all the time making sure our hair, nails, and clothes look perfect just so we don’t have to show anyone how messy we actually feel on the inside.

It’s that feeling of being “ready for the world” because you’ve got your gloss and polish on, even if you’re falling apart. This is something that a whole lotta people are facing, you meet someone, they smile, keep you engaged but when you get to know them, it’s then you realize all that glitter ain’t gold bro.

After hitting that play button, you realize it has that classic Scandinavian electronic vibe—think very clean, lush production with catchy melodies that stick in your head. I love how the song pans out, it’s straight out action, no time for long foreplays. The beautiful thing about the track is, it manages to be a danceable pop track while also being a bit deep and moody. It’s the kind of song you can enjoy at a club, but also listen to while you’re staring at your reflection in the mirror wondering who you actually are.

Following up their first single, “Serpents,” this new track shows that they aren’t just making mindless EDM. They are actually interested in the weird ways we hide from each other in the modern world. It’s a smart, sleek track that doesn’t sacrifice emotion for a beat.

“Manicure for the Strangers” comes in smiling, but deep under it lies a whole world of different mood, different characters and unresolved stress. So if you’ve ever felt like you’re just performing for the people around you, or if you just really like a good synthesizer, you should definitely give this a spin. It’s out now on all the usual platforms. Just don’t be surprised if you find yourself thinking a little too hard the next time you’re getting ready to go out.

Enjoy More From The Vildes here;