Following the recent announcement of their return to the South African music scene, Johannesburg indie darlings Shortstraw have dropped their first radio single ahead of their upcoming September 4 EP.
“Schrödinger” is a lively anthem exploring relationship purgatory, and both the track and its music video are out on all streaming platforms
“Schrödinger” delivers a catchy, feel-good indie-pop melody that masks a much heavier narrative. The track dives into the anxiety, compromise, and emotional tug-of-war of being stuck in relationship limbo.
“We wanted something with an upbeat, happy vibe for radio, even though the subject matter might not be the happiest,” notes frontman Alastair Thomas. It examines the tension between vulnerability and obsession, and the struggle to stay when your instincts are telling you to let go.
More info about Shortstraw‘s “Schrödinger”
The title is a direct nod to the famous physics thought experiment, Schrödinger’s cat, where a cat in a sealed box is considered simultaneously alive and dead until observed. In Shortstraw‘s hands, this becomes a clever metaphor for a fragile romance.
“We almost don’t want to ‘open the box’ because that might result in the relationship ending. The experiment is pretty damn cruel too, which is how some relationships can start to feel,” the band explains.
Interestingly, the track began as a ballad before the band injected it with their signature energetic indie flair.
Taking cues from the band Bleachers, they gave the verses a bouncy, rhythmic pulse that contrasts beautifully with the drawn-out choruses. The result is a dynamic track that blends danceable beats with raw emotion.
That emotional rollercoaster was entirely intentional.
“We want people to feel all the different things,” the band shares. “Hopefully the first impression is that it’s a bop, then on a second listen they pick up the lyrics and hate/relate to the theme and by the third listen they’re cry-singing along. Y’know, every mark of a radio hit!”
The accompanying music video takes a deceivingly simple approach. Shot over a weekend at Mustard – a Greenside production company co-owned by Thomas – the video features the band performing against vibrant, changing backdrops.
Directed by Alastair and filmed by Frank du Toit, the real magic happened in post-production. Alastair cut on every single beat to swap the background colors, resulting in a mesmerizing, stop-motion animation style that perfectly matches the song’s energy.
Check out the music video for Shortstraw‘s “Schrödinger” below:
Ultimately, “Schrödinger” signals Shortstraw‘s spirited return to the airwaves, proving they haven’t lost their touch for crafting catchy earworms that reveal deeper emotional layers with every spin.
You can stream/download the track HERE.
Watch this space for updates in the Music Videos category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
Want to promote your business, event, product or service? We get more than 14,000 pageviews a month! Contact us for marketing and advertising options.
