Blondshell’s Latest Single “Street Rat” is a Powerful Example of the Capability of Indie Rock

Written by Micaela Miller

Immediately launching her own tour in 2023 after spending the year opening for Suki Waterhouse’s North American tour, Sabrina Teitelbaum, aka Blondshell, is proving indie rock is here to stay. Her new single, “Street Rat,” which will be a part of the deluxe version of her first album, Blondshell, is an emotional ballad with unpredictable and captivating instrumentals. Through the usage of layered vocals that create a chilling haunting effect and a consistent rock beat, Teitelbaum demonstrates that indie rock can be reminiscent of everything that captivated audiences of the nineties rock era.

“Street Rat” is melancholic in a way that resonates with the listener yet manages to never stray from a consistent rock sound due to its edgy bass line. With lyrics like, “I don’t want to leave this to God/It’s awful/It’s needed,” the energy is dark and provocative, perfect for the underground scene that indie music is constantly trying to break into. Her voice carries an open vulnerability that is addicting and fresh; just the realness of her songs and the emotions she describes with them are relatable in a way that many artists are afraid to be. Her music is digestible no matter what genre you subscribe to, whether that be indie-pop, alternative, or heavy rock. 

There’s also a consistent theme among all Teitelbaum’s songs that contributes to a world-building not often found in today’s albums. Each song is a piece of a story that contributes to a world Teitelbaum describes as filled with pain, drugs, sex, and anxiety. Her sound, with its dark outlook, is evocative of The Cranberries; even on her more upbeat songs, there’s a consistent undertone of pain. She released a cover of their song, “Disappointment,” which garnered significant attention from fans and further cemented her image of the revival of post-punk and pop rock. 

Based in Los Angeles but raised in New York, Teitelbaum started her career leaning heavily into a pop-focused sound and going by the pseudonym BAUM. Through the pandemic, she became inspired to shift her music career to be more centered on herself as an artist, hence the name change to Blondshell. In an interview with Rolling Stone conducted by Angie Martoccio, she cites Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, and early Tame Impala as her writing inspiration. Her debut album, Blondshell, has a theme of feminist rage that listeners feel in every song, from "Salad,” where she fantasizes about poisoning her friend’s toxic partner, to “Veronica Mars”, where she expresses, “Logan’s a dick/I’m learning that’s hot.” In the same interview with Rolling Stone, she cites Clare Sestanovich’s Objects of Desire and Rebecca Solnit’s Recollections of My Nonexistence as examples of books she read that were reminiscent of her own feelings.

Blondshell is a powerful debut album that shot Teitelbaum to the forefront of the indie music community. She’s relatable and sad but ultimately, that draws her fans in. She’s managed to concoct a powerful message despite only having one full album released. Sabrina Teitelbaum is hurt and angry, and you’re going to hear about it.