Glasgow’s Iona Zajac shares her third single of the year, the heart-wrenching and deeply personal ‘Anton’.
Zajac’s last single ‘Bang’, released in June, combined a rich blend of folk textures and vibrant indie-rock tones to reflect on the joyous discovery that sex can be more than a performative act for the male gaze. ‘Anton’ continues to show off Zajac’s deeply personal writing prowess, but in stark contrast, presents us with a brutal and brave reflection on formative experiences with toxic men. Another direct and unapologetic song has arrived from Iona Zajac.
Zajac explains it best in her own words: “Anton is all the men who assumed they had the upper hand. The men that haunted my teens with their egos and their hands. It’s for the girls who said ok or didn’t. Who were expected to be ok or pretended to be. Anton is the power and the rage I’ve found since. I’m facing these bad times and giving them a terrifying scream, a wink, a handshake, a headbutt.”
Lyrically, Zajac guides the listener through these painful chapters with a stoic, visceral poeticism.
“Anton I can’t remember the time you said I saved your life // Babes and bitches keep you warm until there’s something they don’t like // When I don’t have answers it’s not cause I want to see us fight // Anton I don’t love you like you want me to don’t ask me why.”
The song begins simply. Zajac’s haunting vocal delivery shines over clean, bittersweet guitar chords. With subtle close vocal harmonies and increasing vocal tension, she builds texture which ultimately explodes into a climax of rage and impassioned pain.
Iona Zajac Live Dates
August
1 – Belladrum Festival, Inverness
September
5 – Lincoln Centre, Washington (As part of The Pogues)
7 – Seasun Festival, Boston (As part of The Pogues)
8 – Franklin Music Hall, Philadelphia (As part of The Pogues)
10 – History, Toronto (As part of The Pogues)
12 – Mtelus, Montreal (As part of The Pogues)
13 – CityFolk Festival, Ottowa (As part of The Pogues)
16 – Terminal 5, New York (As part of The Pogues)
17 – Terminal 5, New York (As part of The Pogues)
19 – Riot Fest, Chicago (As part of The Pogues)
For more information on Iona Zajac please check her facebook and instagram.