Loud Tiger (Viktoria Siff) is a Danish multi-platinum singer/songwriter who has split her time between Los Angeles, London and Copenhagen, to which she has now returned. With her big fedora hat I could well believe she was Californian and there is a distinct taste of Americana in this latest single of hers, ‘Cactus’.
She writes songs for others but occasionally keeps some for herself. I assume this is one of them and it’s a good selection.
A song about a succulent plant with a thick fleshy stem which typically bears spines, lacks leaves, and has brilliantly coloured flowers might seem an odd choice but there is method in the apparent madness because her subject is taking a decision to be happy even though you’ve been kicked so hard in the nuts (well, not her – obviously) by life that you find it hard to believe it will ever improve.
So I’m guessing that the beautiful flowers represent that decision and the spikes are the ugly world from which she is distancing herself.
The pint glass is half full, not half empty; every cloud has a silver lining; always look on the bright side of life; all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds – you know the score.
Unless you are a Manchester United supporter of course. Then you don’t even want to know the score.
She’s experienced some hardship, challenges and heavy life moments in recent years so this is fundamentally her ‘I will survive’ moment, which demonstrates her resilience for all to appreciate.
But she doesn’t do it in an in-your-face manner. She isn’t an Irene Cara. It is a steely, slightly melancholic determination attached to that positive outlook that shines through rather than a showboating “I’m gonna live forever” approach.
The press release compared her to several artists including Lissie and I could certainly go along with that. She has the same slightly pained vocal, hanging grimly hanging on to a sunbeam of hope.
The lyrics bear close scrutiny. I don’t know if she wrote all of it herself. There is a high degree of West Coast professionalism in lines like,
“I practise mind over matter/Fix my sanity with ice cold showers
Nothing’s ever ever after/So Imma strap a smile on”
Not to mention the wonderfully gender fluid,
“Ain’t no woman is an island”.
And I love the way she slips in an almost unnoticed “Nah I’m not going back to black”.
Wherever she is Amy will be nodding appreciatively at that one.
Musically, the song starts off like a tribute to Anna Calvi in its beat and dominant bass line over guitar but quickly moves up-tempo into a series of memorable choruses, each growing successively more hopeful in their outlook.
I’ve heard plenty of songs from big names that aren’t up to this standard charting here in the UK and I’m sure it has a good chance of doing just that if it is give the opportunity.
Find her on:
Website: https://loud-tiger.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loudtigerband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudtigermusic/
