Rockstar & Elise, “Makeup“
“Emily AF’s journey as a musician has been a long, winding one that has taken her from various positions as an audio engineer—including a stint as a live audio engineer for an early iteration of the Zac Brown Band—to emergent solo artist. “Makeup” is the latest single from the musician’s solo project, Rockstar & Elise, and the track boasts a more pointed title than one might expect at first blush. “I always thought of my clothes and makeup as my armor, which I think is kind of universal and something I still do,” the musician says in an email to Tone Madison. It’s a concept that’s bound to find resonance with many listeners. The implicit, battle-tested, war-ready aspect inherent to the title is reflected nicely by the music, which registers as defiantly celebratory synth-pop. Cribshitter virtuoso Karl Christensen guests as a guitarist on the track, delivering some slinky, disco-adjacent playing.
“It’s whatever makes you feel invincible,” sings AF in a moment of quiet contemplation during the song’s chorus, before “Makeup” conjures up a feeling of spiritual ascension with a declarative, “Let’s get made up.” “Makeup” is a thrilling song that feels warm and welcoming; a balm in the face of harsh climates, whether personal or broad. All of AF’s experiences as a musician and audio engineer pay off on “Makeup,” which seems set to kick off an exciting new chapter of the musician’s career.
