Premiere: Pillowprince Express Grief, Anger, and Resilience in Their Powerful Anthem “Care About” - Atwood Magazine

      Oakland's queer shoegaze trio Pillowprince addresses themes of violence and loss in their profoundly emotional third single, "Care About," which serves as a powerful plea for presence, empathy, and action.

      “When will you start caring about everyone who should be here now?” Olivia Lee’s poignant words linger, resonating with the weight of lives lost, silenced voices, and erased histories. They echo in the darkness like a beacon in thick fog—sharp, urgent, and impossible to overlook. This encapsulates the intensity of Pillowprince’s latest release: "Care About" is an intimate and haunting exploration that delves deeply into both collective and personal grief, offering a dark, crushing, and cathartic experience.

      The Oakland-based shoegaze band channels sorrow, anger, and quiet defiance through an expansive soundscape that envelops listeners with a rich yet delicate wall of distortion and reverb. Their music moves like a turbulent storm—heavy and relentless—yet interspersed with moments of glimmering hope that indicate not all is lost.

      Care About – Pillowprince

      Alright, doing alright

      Alright, getting some sunshine

      And finding some little thing to love

      'Cause everything is f*ed

      All night, dancing all night

      All night, laughing all night

      With their painted faces shining so bright

      Making some little kid feel loved

      When will you start caring about

      Everyone who should be here now

      How many faces and names ago

      And the hate spewing from their mouths

      Atwood Magazine is excited to premiere “Care About,” the third single from Oakland, CA-based queer indie rock band Pillowprince. Since their debut in January, the trio of Olivia Lee, drummer Sea Snyder, and Liza Stegall has made a name for themselves as a compelling new force in music: Their initial singles, “Mercurial” and “R the Straights OK,” are not only catchy but also incisive, with “Care About” showcasing the band at their most intense, unapologetic, and raw.

      All night, hearing them all night

      All night, hearing them all night

      So I’m finding some little thing to love

      And tomorrow we will light something up

      Written in the aftermath of the tragic shooting at the Colorado queer bar Club Q, “Care About” encompasses a surge of nightmarish anger, purposeful messaging, and a call to empathy. It serves as both Pillowprince’s therapeutic reflection and emotional response, weighed down by unimaginable grief yet uplifted by the moving, soul-stirring refrain: “When will you start caring about everyone who should be here now?” A mantra and challenge combined, Pillowprince urges us to recognize that there’s no better time than now to speak out and take action.

      Pillowprince © Alexia Abarca

      In a year characterized by authoritarian takeovers, institutional complacency, and democratic regression, “Care About” distinguished itself with its unwavering emotional clarity and steadfast call to action—a raw, reverberating outcry that grieves loss while demanding presence, empathy, and accountability.

      Experience Pillowprince’s third single exclusively on Atwood Magazine, and stay tuned for future releases as the trio prepares to launch their debut EP, pretty, baby!—scheduled to come out later this year!

      When will you start caring about

      Everyone who should be here now

      How many faces and names ago

      And the hate spewing from their mouths

      When will you start caring about…

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      :: connect with Pillowprince here ::

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      Stream: “Care About” – Pillowprince

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      © Alexia Abarca

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