LA-based “glimmer rock” artist to watch, Vienna Vienna, transforms digital fatigue into movement with his track “Idle Hands.” This high-energy piece paints a vivid picture of overstimulation, connection, and the essential joy of gathering together, just ahead of the release of his upcoming ‘Entertain Me’ EP.
One, two, three, everybody do the ketamine, everybody with the OCD, you did it, you got it!
* * *
“Idle Hands” presents an electrifying experience straight to the nervous system, captivating listeners from the very first note and holding on tight. Fast-paced, intense, and undeniably addictive, Vienna Vienna’s latest single bursts with powerful indie pop energy, its hooks striking like sparks from bare wires. The LA-based artist makes your heart race and your mind come alive simultaneously, presenting a vibrant earworm that thrives on movement without apologizing for its loudness or vitality. Released on November 7th through PULSE Records and Pete Wentz’s DCD2 Records, “Idle Hands” delivers a sense of urgency perfectly suited for movement—music that calls to be sung back in a crowded space filled with bodies, sweat, and sound. This goal is intentional. “I love to perform more than anything and I always create songs with the intention of being best experienced live,” Vienna Vienna shares with Atwood Magazine. From the pulsating rhythm to the soaring chorus, this track radiates that energy designed for live performances.
Idle Hands – Vienna Vienna
Too bad the bastards got you,
the bastards got you
You’re really gonna stick it to ’em
Hey man, the western fronts you,
the western fronts you
The freedom to get jiggy with it
You know the muse just speaks
and your fingers tweak
And you’re any devil’s plaything
Too bad the bastards got you,
the vampires want you
They want, want, want, want
Active since 2021, Vienna Vienna is the rapidly emerging project of LA-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist “J”—a passionately expressive and electrifying performer carving a niche where showmanship and sincerity intertwine. After capturing attention earlier this year with the brilliant queer anthem “God Save the Queens,” Vienna Vienna has continued to develop a collection of work marked by bold hooks, theatrical energy, and an unwavering dedication to community. With “Idle Hands,” he refines this vision further, encapsulating movement, connection, and release in one of his most immediate and electrifying offerings yet.
The song is a vibrant testament to the artist’s self-described “glimmer rock,” a term embodying both the theatrical flair and catharsis intrinsic to his sound. “Glimmer rock revolves around a few principles, but ‘loudness’ is the most significant,” he elaborates. “It reflects my flamboyance and boisterousness. Each song I compose serves as a cathartic expression for me, and hopefully for others too. I draw inspiration from various genres and scenes—art rock, indie, dance punk, emo—creating a diverse musical buffet that I genuinely love.” All those influences converge in “Idle Hands,” blending glossy synths, distorted guitars, driving drums, and a sense of theatrical abandon that transforms chaos into exhilarating art.
Vienna Vienna © Haley Blavka
Beneath the exuberant intensity is a pronounced frustration with modern overstimulation. Vienna Vienna wrote “Idle Hands” as a reaction to digital overwhelm, intentionally rooting the track in physical sound. “I aimed to honor my love of the analog, sticking to the tangible equipment I have,” he notes. Constructed from a Juno, fuzzed-out guitar, bass through a tube screamer, along with a blend of live drums, percussion, and drum machines, the song feels palpably physical—something to grasp rather than scroll past.
One, two, three, everybody do the ketamine
Everybody with the OCD
You did it, you got it
You did it, you got it
My idle hands
Keep me occupied all the time
I fail to launch
But I’m the rocket man in my mind
The chorus encapsulates that tension perfectly: Restless energy without a meaningful outlet. For Vienna Vienna, the song serves as a personal call to action. “‘Idle Hands’ is fundamentally about my dissatisfaction with online environments and feeling as though few genuine connections have emerged there for me,” he explains. “I needed a personal impetus, a nudge to get my hands into something real.” This idea crystallizes in his mantra for the track—“change lies at your footsteps, not your fingertips”—a reminder that genuine connection remains in the offline world, in action, in presence.
“The connection you seek exists ‘out there,’ and trust me, it's worth it,” he asserts. “So when you’re done trying to sway the opinions of someone with an anonymous profile pic, let me know.
LA-based “glimmer rock” artist Vienna Vienna, who is gaining attention, transforms digital fatigue into dynamic expression on “Idle Hands.” The track presents a vibrant depiction of overstimulation, community, and the pressing joy of coming together, in anticipation of his upcoming EP 'Entertain Me.'