Violent Femmes are returning with their new album Hotel Last Resort this month, and the band have shared the LP's newly recorded version of "I'm Nothing," which actually features pro skateboarder Stefan Janoski.
"'I'm Nothing' explores the modern conundrum of people needing to attach labels to other human beings," bassist Brian Ritchie explained in a statement. "We refute that in human terms and also with our music."
"I'm Nothing" originally appeared on the band's 1994 album New Times, but after Janoski reached out to the group with an idea for a Violent Femmes-themed Nike sneaker, they decided to record a new version of the song. The shoe will apparently feature the words "I'm Nothing" written on the tongue in the skateboarder's handwriting, in addition to the words "Violent" and "Femmes" stitched on the left and right shoes, respectively.
"We're kind of like jazz musicians or folk musicians," Ritchie continued. "We don't really see the harm in revisiting a song or doing a new version. So here's Stefan, coming from the outside and having such enthusiasm for 'I'm Nothing,' we thought it was a good time to revisit it and invited him to help out on the vocals. He was so enthusiastic about it, it was like he was floating on clouds while he was in the studio."
Hear the new version of "I'm Nothing" below.
Hotel Last Resort arrives on July 26 via [PIAS]. Violent Femmes have a series of U.S. dates coming up, and you can see all those here.
"'I'm Nothing' explores the modern conundrum of people needing to attach labels to other human beings," bassist Brian Ritchie explained in a statement. "We refute that in human terms and also with our music."
"I'm Nothing" originally appeared on the band's 1994 album New Times, but after Janoski reached out to the group with an idea for a Violent Femmes-themed Nike sneaker, they decided to record a new version of the song. The shoe will apparently feature the words "I'm Nothing" written on the tongue in the skateboarder's handwriting, in addition to the words "Violent" and "Femmes" stitched on the left and right shoes, respectively.
"We're kind of like jazz musicians or folk musicians," Ritchie continued. "We don't really see the harm in revisiting a song or doing a new version. So here's Stefan, coming from the outside and having such enthusiasm for 'I'm Nothing,' we thought it was a good time to revisit it and invited him to help out on the vocals. He was so enthusiastic about it, it was like he was floating on clouds while he was in the studio."
Hear the new version of "I'm Nothing" below.
Hotel Last Resort arrives on July 26 via [PIAS]. Violent Femmes have a series of U.S. dates coming up, and you can see all those here.
