Photo by Amanda Koellner
Scarlett Johansson’s on-again-off-again musical career has taken some rather unexpected turns over the years. The actress has released an album of Tom Waits covers, contributed to a Serge Gainsbourg tribute album, collaborated with the likes of Pete Yorn and Massive Attack, and, most recently, offered up her best take on New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle”. Now, Johansson’s looking to storm the pop world, forming a new supergroup called The Singles with Este Haim (yes, of that HAIM), Holly Miranda, Julia Haltigan, and Kendra Morris.
“The idea was to write super-pop dance music written and performed by girls,” Johansson explained of the new project. She counts Grimes, the Bangles, and the Go-Go’s as major influences, noting, “I wanted it to be like those bands: ultra-pop but also a little ironic, a little in on the joke.”
As a preview of what’s to come, the saccharine bunch have let loose their debut single, the aptly-titled “Candy”, which was produced by TV on the Radio’s Dave Sitek. (Sitek and Johansson previously worked together on that Waits record.) Listen to the groovin’, synth-y number below.
“Candy” is due out via Sitek’s own Federal Prism label. Pre-order it here.
