Elle E wrote this particular track throughout the finicky process of growing her hair out again after shaving it – and it’s one of her most quirky releases.
Not to mention she dropped it with a DIY visual backed full of ’90s allusions to bring it all to life. Elle E channels a retro punk-rock sound which harks lazily back to ’90s glam-rock – all edge and eyeliner, platform shoes and electric guitar. Think angry girl music of the indie-rock persuasion – although she’s not decidedly angry in so far as passionate.
“Hairy Situation” is packed full of almost-spoken vocalism, driving drums and the sort of guitar lines which veer it towards soft-core punk tendencies. “From the roots down, dark brown / what if I shaved it? But I like to wear it down.” It’s pretty much an ode to all the things hair care and the video delivers a little gimmicky flair there too.
The visual pairs an overriding orange-backed, overlong fringe aesthetic with intermittent archive footage of spray on hair and obscure historical styles – she even threw in the classic young Justin Timberlake meets 2-minute noodles meme for good measure.
If you stay right to the end, you’re even awarded with a magic trick. The girl’s got grit but she’s also got silliness.
