Song of the Day: Adia Victoria - Dead Eyes

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Afternoon Show with Kevin Cole, is “Dead Eyes” by Adia Victoria from her 2016 album Beyond The Bloodhounds on Canvasback/Atlantic.

Adia Victoria - Dead Eyes (MP3)

Using a foundation of Delta blues and imagery to paint vivid scenes of Southern identity and life, Adia Victoria's songs draw significantly from her Southern heritage to craft literary and gritty tales with equally as visceral music to accompany them. Born and raised in a Seventh Day Adventist family in South Carolina, Victoria's early life was dominated by the church, which would leave a lasting impact on her. Victoria briefly resided in New York City after high school, but eventually moved to Atlanta, where she picked up a guitar and found herself fascinated with blues music. A subsequent move to Nashville put her in the heart of a thriving music community, and after releasing her debut single in 2014, Victoria spent the following year preparing her debut LP, this year's Beyond The Bloodhounds. Featuring an undeniably striking couplet in its chorus – "You don't believe in God/yes, whiskey will do" – "Dead Eyes", the album's lead single, is a commanding opening statement from the Carolinian songwriter. Victoria rarely raves up her performance (and that of her band) to full volume, but she comes closest on "Dead Eyes", adding a spike of barroom flair to her confident, mischievous vocal turn. Opting for incisive, laser-sharp precision over blustery force, Adia Victoria subtly reads the table and plays her best hand on "Dead Eyes", only cashing in once she's ensured everyone in the room is in the focus of her piercing glance.

Adia Victoria will stop in Seattle on June 11th at the Sunset Tavern in support of Beyond The Bloodhounds. Get tickets and more info on that 21+ show here, keep up with her at her website and Facebook, and watch the video for "Dead Eyes" below.