On “Shiny Things,” Los Angeles dream-pop voyager Polartropica continues her tradition of bending genres into bright, emotional galaxies, but this time she pivots somewhere unexpected: straight into cosmic Americana. The result is an intimate, heart-worn song that reveals a new dimension to her artistry, soft, earthy, cinematic, and still unmistakably Polartropica.
Inspired by her father’s love for John Denver and infused with the golden-era harmony sensibilities of The Everly Brothers and the surf-breeze guitar nostalgia of The Beach Boys, “Shiny Things” is a bittersweet reverie. The collaboration with Americana storyteller Gilbert Louie Ray adds warmth and rootsy texture, nestling beautifully alongside Polartropica’s vocals, creating a sound that feels both fresh and timeless.
Produced and engineered by Brandon Graham, the track is meticulously layered but never overcrowded. Airy slide guitars shimmer around a glowing chord progression, letting the lyrics take emotional center stage. Polartropica writes about the quiet ache of letting go, of love, dreams, and illusions, and the slow, brave return to yourself once the heartbreak settles. As she puts it, the song is about “finding it in your heart to learn and grow from all the hard lessons and finally let go with a sense of understanding and acceptance.” That sense of emotional evolution pulses through every line.
The accompanying music video, directed by Tristan Pelletier, leans into Polartropica’s flair for theatrical surrealism. She stars as a desert pirate navigating the Salton Sea and a run-in with a hilariously mundane villain—bureaucracy—via a parking ticket. It’s whimsical, cinematic, and wonderfully weird; a reminder that Polartropica isn’t just making songs—she’s building worlds. Already celebrated by Billboard, NPR, NYLON, and LADYGUNN, Polartropica continues to transcend genre and expectation. “Shiny Things” shows an artist unafraid to evolve, melding Americana storytelling with dream-pop emotion. It’s tender, radiant, and quietly triumphant.
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