Los Angeles-based Zella Day has released a brilliant new video, directed by Alex Casnoff, for her song “Radio Silence,” which she released three weeks ago to rapturous response. “Radio Silence” – written in fall of 2021 – details the experience of a young woman forced to reckon with the choices surrounding an unintended pregnancy. Combining sonic elements of college radio-era R.E.M. with haunting synths and drums, as well as some of the most pointed, evocative lyrics Day has ever written, “Radio Silence” is raw, candid, and universally resonant. 

Says Day about the video, “It was on a Monday that we decided we were going to shoot a music video that was coming Friday before I left for Texas. We ended up shooting until 4AM, I was on a plane two hours later with beach sand in my shoes leftover from the Santa Monica Pier. There was a frantic energy in the air that night as we moved through the city with our shot list, we found some of our best scenes in an In-And-Out bathroom and while running down side streets in Simi Valley. I’ll be keeping the Bunny head as a memento from our iPhone thriller.

We really want the viewer to feel the energy that we felt creating this psychological chase through Los Angeles.“

“Radio Silence” was written by Day and Alex Casnoff (Jonathan Wilson, Harriet), and features backing vocals from fellow LA musician Miya Folick. Lyrics for the song – prescient in their ability to match our current political reality months after they were penned – are below. 

“Radio Silence” is a bold sonic step forward for Day, and a fitting welcome to the next chapter of her musical journey. In 2021, Day released a handful of tracks that racked up millions and millions of streams, including “Golden,” “Dance For Love,” “Girls,” a duet with Weyes Blood called “Holocene,” and a remix of “Golden” by Twin Shadow. Day also appeared on Lana Del Rey’s Chemtrails Over the Country Club last year, covering Joni Mitchell with Del Rey and Weyes Blood in a symbolic passing of the sonic torch from one great LA singer/songwriter to the new generation. 

Photo Courtesy: Chloe Chippendale