The Namby Pamby ponder how not to be “Misconstrued” in new single
Cover art for “Misconstrued”
“Tell me, what’s a girl got to do / to go a single day, and not feel misconstrued?” This question echoes throughout the latest release from The Namby Pamby, an innovative indie trio hailing from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The group, composed of McKenna Parks, Emily Parks, and Payton Knerr, fuse elements from folk, jazz, and soft-rock to create expansive sonic environments in each and every one of their tracks. In “Misconstrued,” the band wades through self-doubt and rumination, investigating the reality of confronting the reflection looking back in them in the mirror.
The Namby Pamby wrap listeners in the dissonance of day-to-day monotony in “Misconstrued.” McKenna Parks’ writing on the latest single whispers dread directly into the hearts of listeners; as the pressures of normalcy begin to turn into too heavy of a weight on the shoulders, the narrative of “Misconstrued” takes an almost journal-esque form as the narrator explores the deep emotional complexities of self-withdrawal as a means of self-preservation. McKenna Parks sings how “Oh, and I don’t wanna be / something extraordinary” in the track, demonstrating the reluctance of standing out at the risk of someone else interpreting you as something you are not. To not be misconstrued is to hide, an emotional battle that beautifully blossoms throughout the internal narrative of the track.
The production of the song is simply lovely. It’s simultaneously cozy and isolated, mimicking the disconnected state of consciousness presented in the lyrics of “Misconstrued.” The instruments are swaddled with a delicate tinge of reverb that transforms the track into a serene and dreamy plane. The guitars and steel pedal melt together with a smooth texture that comforts an ailing and conflicted mind, while synth keys bubble throughout the song and sparingly invoke a tasteful liveliness and tenderness throughout the track. The percussion groove is gentle yet forceful enough to push the song and the narrator forward despite the certain reluctance that weaves itself through the lyrics and melody of the song, adding a satisfying contrast that makes “Misconstrued” that much more thoughtful. What’s not to be misconstrued is how intricately crafted each layer of the instrumental has been implemented into the track; the song is lovingly and intentionally somber in the best way possible, sounding exactly like the dark hum of a February evening.
McKenna Parks, the lead vocalist of The Namby Pamby, performs powerfully and vulnerably throughout the track, causing every word to dig deeper as every syllable bursts with passion. The navigation between the softer upper register and the husky rich tone in the lower register is essentially flawless through the visceral connection between Parks’ voice and the overall mood of the song. While The Namby Pamby themselves might feel misconstrued, Parks tells the story of “Misconstrued” in such a way that it’s impossible for listeners to divert their attention away from. Every moment is enamoring and enrapturing, a beautiful and haunting ballad of the inability to escape one’s self.
“Misconstrued” precedes the release of the group’s sophomore record, The Birds Aren’t Migrating Like They’re Supposed To, which is set to release on February 28th. Following the record’s lead single, “Lucky Eyes,” the upcoming 12 track record certainly appears to be shaping up to be a solemn yet charming proclamation of artistry from one of the most prominent names in the indie scene.