Origins is a recurring series giving artists a space to break down everything that went into their latest release. Today, Slothrust take us through their cover of Ginuwine’s “Pony.”
Slothrust have announced their latest EP, I Promise, set for release on October 20th. As the first taste of the project, the rock duo has unleashed a reinterpretation of Ginuwine’s sensual classic “Pony.”
Swapping bombastic R&B for sleek, bass-driven rock, Slothrust’s “Pony” honors the original by treating it with reverence and respect, rather than poking fun. The result is a hard-rocking rendition complete with distorted low-end, syrupy guitar lines, hard-hitting drums, and hypnotic lead vocals.
“When Slothrust covers other people’s songs, our goal is always to offer them through a different lens,” vocalist Leah Wellbaum says of the cover. “We grew up listening to a lot of ’90s R&B, and ‘Pony’ was always one of our favorites. It’s so bold and fully commits to the metaphor while keeping it consensual and kinky. We love this level of commitment and wanted to match it by doing a heavy, guitar-driven interpretation of this song through a queer lens.”
And match the level of commitment they did, especially with the sparkly, suggestive music video that accompanies the release. An artful reconstruction, “Pony” manages to be a loving homage while taking the initial concept in an entirely different direction.
Check out the music video for Slothrust’s “Pony” cover below, followed by Wellbaum’s breakdown of the song’s Origins.
Pre-orders for Slothrust’s follow-up to their 2021 album Parallel Timeline are ongoing. Slothrust also have a string of US tour dates coming up. See their itinerary below, and grab tickets here.
I Promise Artwork:
I Promise Tracklist:
01. Pony
02. Maybe Maybe
03. Magic Glow
04. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
05. Pony (Extended Version)
06. Pony (Instrumental)
07. Pony (Acapella)
Slothrust 2023 Tour Dates:
10/20 – San Diego, CA @ SOMA SAN DIEGO
10/24 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre ^
10/25 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Historic El Rey Theater ^
10/27 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom ^
10/28 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater ^
10/29 – Dallas, TX @ The Factory In Deep Ellum ^
10/30 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works ^
10/31 – Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works ^
11/02 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City Bham ^
11/03 – St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheatre ^
11/04 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern ^
11/05 – Columbia, SC @ The Senate ^
11/07 – Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz ^
11/08 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore ^
11/10 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 ^
11/11 – New York, NY @ Terminal 5 ^
11/12 – Syracuse, NY @ The Song & Dance
11/13 – Jamestown, NY @ Jamestown Skate Products
11/16 – Columbia, MO @ Rose Music Hall
11/17 – Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
11/18 – Wichita, KS @ WAVE
11/19 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep
^ = w/ The Front Bottoms
