Roberta Faceplant Is Fed Up in the Chicest Way Possible in "Everything Is Trash" Video

Roberta Faceplant, photo by Bob Sweeney

By Emily Herbein

Roberta Faceplant, the moniker adopted by You Do You’s frontwoman Katie Feeney, is fed up with… well, everything. I am too. Aren’t we all? In her debut single, she’s digging deep into her country influences and drawing a distinct line between satirical and emphatic glam rock. I’ve known Katie best for her soulful, big-band, jazz-inspired vocal stylings with You Do You, but her message as Roberta Faceplant is that “no shits given” type and she’s going to do what she wants. This single honestly coulnd’t be more timely. Because I’m tired, and this song totally vocalizes that “what the heck is going on???” feeling. It’s no secret that everything does kind of suck right now, but there’s (likely) a light at the end of the tunnel.

If you needed a song to shake you out of whatever is bringing you down at the moment, I think this is it. The arrangement is bright and cutting and completely, authentically classic country. I like that she decided to experiment with styles, and the Roberta Faceplant glam Americana aesthetic is so cool and edgy. Feeney really digs into her vocals in a way that’s totally gripping and demands attention, seamlessly transitioning between delicate soprano trills and intensely fed-up riffs. She knows that things are complete shit right now, and she’s not holding anything back. That naturally rough-around-the-edges sound feels totally at home in this song. 2021 is a year of completely authentic releases, and so many of my artists are really honing in on sounds that feel the most like them. I love it. I’m here for it.

The video, shot by Marcus Neal Gordon at MNG Studios, splices footage of Feeny draped across literal piles of trash and walking in a bedazzled denim jacket and a killer cowboy hat with actual trash compacting shots. Like, I commend her for committing to the bit, because it’s intentionally hilarious and fun. I want more artists to let loose a little because the end result is usually the most organic version of yourself. The entire vibe of Roberta Faceplant is that: authenticity without caring how that looks or feels to anyone but you. Feeney’s always been a champion for that sort of thing, whether that’s with her own work or the way that she supports others. I don’t think you’ll find a bigger advocate for women in music taking up the space we deserve than her.

She’s hosting a premiere event tonight at 7:00 PM EST, and you can join her right here. Check out the video for “Everything is Trash” below, and stream the track wherever you find music.