A BITE INTO THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT OF GIRL TONES’ NEWEST SINGLE ‘CHERRY PICKER’
Just wrapping up their tour in support of Silversun Pickups, Girl Tones has returned with their newest single, “Cherry Picker.” Heavy in both sound and emotion, “Cherry Picker” warns of the danger that comes with picking forbidden fruit. The song describes the uncomfortable feeling of being misled by someone or something you once trusted.
Graphic by Haley Petrone (Crave Music Magazine)
Girl Tones is an eclectic rock duo made up of siblings Kenzie Shultz and Laila Crowe. Both sisters are classically trained musicians, with Shultz starting on cello and Crowe on piano. Later in life, Shultz moved to guitar and Crowe switched to drums, thus birthing Girl Tones. With their first single, “Fade Away,” releasing in 2024, these sisters are on the rise — developing their sound with each release.
“Cherry Picker” begins with a noisy fade-in that drops right into a heavy guitar and drum intro. Filled with angst and grunge, the instrumental leads us to the first lines, “Hey cherry picker. Who’s your favorite daughter?” Shultz’s distorted vocal effects match the uneasy tone of the song, as her guitar shreds underneath. Each effect is particularly layered to lend itself to the idea of forbidden fruit and not feeling at rest with a situation. Shultz and Crowe build this sound further and get completely rowdy when the chorus begins.
“I bit the hand that feeds me / It tastes like hypocrite / A wolf hides in sheep’s clothing / And feels like bitter death,” Shultz sings in the chorus. This part exemplifies the feeling of going against something you felt a strong connection and bond to, only to realize it was never on your side to begin with. The uncomfortable feeling of realizing your judgment has been blinded feels like a jab to the heart, or a “bitter death.”
“Hey cherry picker,” is a phrase repeated throughout the entire song. Best known as a term referring to someone who only takes and chooses things they find beneficial and of value to themselves, the expression also serves as a nod to the idea of picking “forbidden fruit.” When sung, the phrase is routinely followed by a question or statement posed to whatever is deceiving this person, or the “cherry picker.” As backing vocals are added, the song progresses further in its chaotic nature. Shultz sings, “If you can make me a believer, go on and pull the trigger,” right before the chorus comes back in, adding to the idea of deception and uncertainty.
About “Cherry Picker,” Shultz said, “I love this song because it’s a reminder to me that anyone, including myself, is susceptible to distortion.” Although it is not strictly written out what or who exactly this “cherry picker” is, the song serves as an uncomfortable reminder that nobody is immune to deception.
Despite their tour with Silversun Pickups coming to an end last month, Girl Tones will be on the road throughout September and October in support of Cage the Elephant and at various music festivals. While the sibling duo is still in the early days of their career, Girl Tones have honed a great following to accompany their unique sound as a band.
