Petticoat Releases New Single “The Middle”

Bay area artist David Halsey, also known as Petticoat, is giving 80s new wave a makeover in his new single, “The Middle.”

Infectiously fun and free-spirited, this track is anchored by marimba rhythms, cosmic synths, and a steady four-on-the-floor beat. Petticoat’s passionate vocals further add a layer of euphoria to the already inspired piece of pop fantasy.

“’The Middle’ is a direct inspiration from 80s new wave that I grew up,” Petticoat said. “I was listening to a lot of Bananarama and Thompson Twins making this track. The song is a simple break-free type song about leaving a hometown situation. The song is sprinkled with events and places that transpired when I was 18, all based around my home with my brother and father.”

Petticoat was able to take a few minutes to answer some questions for OUT FRONT.Hello, Petticoat! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me. How are you doing during these unprecedented times?
Thank you! I have been holding up. Getting inspired and continuous work has been difficult for me, especially when I work from home and my setting doesn’t change, but the world continues at an extremely rapid pace. I have been coping by putting less of an emphasis on productivity and trying to cultivate relationships with friends and family by reaching out.

Although your real name is David, you go by Petticoat. How did you come up with this name?
Never thought hard about the name. When I started the project, I wanted to go down a different route with a playful and soft palate of ideas and sounds. There was also a desire to express femininity through my music. I needed something that would reflect that, and Petticoat encapsulated it beautifully. Most of all, it is such a fun word to say!

You just released your latest single, “The Middle.” Can you tell us more about the song’s concept and inspiration?
I began writing this song after visiting family in the Bay Area. It is mostly a reflection on the relationship between my home life and my current one in Los Angeles. Universally, I feel like people can be faced with guilt when they move away from family, and this song is a proclamation asking to be freed from that guilt. It is mixed between the pleas of “release me” and specific stories of living with my brother and father which caused me to move. Musically, I was listening to a hodgepodge of 80s pop before writing. Mostly Madonna, Depeche Mode, Bananarama, and the Thompson Twins. This song would be nothing without that marimba lead which was mostly inspired by Howard Jones and Bananarama.

What do you hope listeners take away from “The Middle?”
At the end of the day, it is a fun song to listen to. I hope listeners can just put it on and get in the rhythm at the very least. To go deeper, I hope some people can relate to the message and the lyrics of the song through my specific and personal lyrics.

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And what is the overall message you try to convey with your music?
I have a major importance on writing about what I live, so a lot of my music has to do with personal experience that I draw upon. The music may be fun and interesting on the surface with plenty of ear candy, but most songs deal with isolation, lust, mundane/monotony of everyday life, confusion, and personal relationships. I wouldn’t say I am preaching a message with the project, but instead it’s a reflection of my self-discovery. That’s what I find exciting about it, because I can look back on a song about family, crossdressing, or lost love, and it feels more than a memory, but an important piece of who I was.

You are heavily inspired by 80s new wave. Why is that aesthetic and sound so important to you?
I grew up on a lot of different period and genres of music from different family members, but 80s music has been the most visceral for me. One of my first music memories was listening to “Ray of Light” by Madonna when I couldn’t have been more than four-years-old. I inherited my taste from my mother and it feels like an extension of our relationship at points.

In addition to Madonna, who are some of your other major musical influences?
My influences are super wide ranging and always changing. Madonna as an artist has easily inspired me by how versatile she makes herself. Between multiple decades and musical styles, I only aspire to have the range she has. Going through my phone, I can say that other artists include Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, Toro Y Moi, Charli XCX – to name a few.

Have you always had a passion for singing and songwriting?
Only recently did I feel it was appropriate to start singing and songwriting. I have been producing music for close to nine years now, and after all the force of change I put myself through, it felt that recording myself was the next logical step in my artistry. I did musical theatre in high school, so I thought I wouldn’t be a stranger to it, but it was definitely a personal struggle figuring out my voice and accepting it. It is now so rewarding when I can make a song and implement a more personal side to every song. Although you are a straight man, your music explores a lot of themes on gender expression and sexuality. Can you talk more about that?
I have always had an affinity for dressing up and expression. My last song, “Closets,” was about a time in high school where I felt comfortable enough to go through my mother’s closet and put on a fashion showcase in front of some friends. Also, my favorite pop music, and music in general, always had this lean towards femininity, over the top expression, and unique personality. With my name, my image, and my musical landscape, I want to try and create homage to art that I get inspired.

What more do you hope to accomplish with your music and platform?
I just want to make music I can be proud of. Beyond what people think or how they connect, I want to release art that I can look back ten years down the line and not reminisce, but be glad and inspired by. I also hope I can inspire myself and others to challenge the preconceived notions they have for themselves. I have so many things I want to explore within myself, and it will be all reflected on the project.

What’s next? Any other upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?
I am making something every day, so there will be plenty of new music on the way. I am releasing a couple more singles, and then a whole LP will come early 2021. Can’t wait to have people hear it for the first time!

To stay up to date with Petticoat, follow him on social media. “The Middle” is available on all digital streaming platforms.

Photos Courtesy of Nas Bogado