Sometimes the hookiest pop songs come packaged with the sharpest sociopolitical edges. That’s certainly the case with “White Girls,” the confident and confrontational new single from 21-year-old songwriter/drummer VANDALISBIN.
As the track’s backstory outlines, “White Girls” grapples with the thorny realities of discrimination and prejudice that can permeate even the most intimate realms of interpersonal relationships. VANDALISBIN, the project of queer musician Helena, pulls no punches in her lyrical assessments, serving up pithy observations that linger long after the song’s indelible hook has wormed its way into your brain.
“Just because you’re queer and gay doesn’t mean you’re always fair,” Helena intones over a lo-fi indie-pop bedrock that channels the casual charm of Mitski or Mac DeMarco. It’s a deceptively simple declaration that belies the song’s deeper complexities – a pointed rebuke of the assumption that marginalized communities are inherently above the same petty biases that plague the dominant culture.
Yet for all its lyrical barbs, “White Girls” never comes across as preachy or didactic. VANDALISBIN’s songwriting maintains a compellingly casual, conversational delivery that keeps the track grounded in the messy, all-too-relatable experiences of modern queer life. This isn’t some abstract social justice polemic, but rather the sound of someone unpacking their own frustrations and insecurities with enviable candor.
And musically, VANDALISBIN perfectly matches that tone. The track’s lo-fi production – all hazy guitars, smeary synths, and casually slanted rhythms – imbues the entire affair with an intimate, stream-of-consciousness feel. It’s as if we’re eavesdropping on a late-night kitchen table confessional, one that just happens to be powered by an earworm of a melody.
Ultimately, “White Girls” succeeds because it refuses to offer easy answers. VANDALISBIN isn’t interested in moralizing or grandstanding, but rather excavating the nuanced truths buried within the queer dating experience. It’s a song that acknowledges prejudice and discrimination while still leaving space for the messy realities of the human heart.
So kudos to VANDALISBIN for crafting a pop anthem with real bite. “White Girls” is a hook-laden middle finger to anyone who thinks progress and justice are simple, linear propositions. Sometimes the revolution has to start right in your own damn bedroom.
If you liked this track, check out this album:
B-Side Guys 
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