Los Angeles artist Wallice is a bold new voice in pop music, combining witty and unapologetic lyrics with the kind of melodies that get stuck in your head for days on end. 'Hey Michael' is her latest single, following on from 'Punching Bag' and '23', released in late 2020 and earlier this year respectively. She's gearing up for the release of her debut EP Off The Rails, slated for release in June.
'Hey Michael' is a "revenge anthem" that takes aim at toxic 'Michaels', in a savage commentary on modern dating. It comes with a hilarious Phil Stillwell directed music video that sees Wallice in her best suit and tie navigating a house party that ends in a bloody mess.
Her close friend and producer marinelli takes on the role of 'Michael' in the video and with a guest verse, in which he explains just how he's the human embodiment of a red flag.
Wallice herself puts it best:
"Hey Michael' is a revenge anthem for anyone who has encountered a gaslighting, manipulative person. It's what I wish I would have said to all the 'Michaels' I have met in my life."
"Somehow the world revolves around them and they just can't catch a break, because they never do anything wrong and it's usually your fault. You should have listened to your gut instinct and swiped left on this Michael."
Don't get too offended though if your name does happen to be Michael. "It can be substituted by many names, we all know or have met a 'Michael' though," says Wallice. And if you're still offended, just know: "This isn't a man-hating song, it's just something many people can relate to. Sometimes it's embarrassing to admit just how bad a friend, date, or romantic partner was and a lot of the time, I would just smile and laugh off stupid remarks but when I think back, I wish I had told them off."
Wallice puts these criticisms in a way that leaves little to the imagination; she's not afraid to tell it how it is. But she's also able to self-reflect and evaluate her own toxic behaviours.
"But at the same time, my persona in the song is not the best person either," she says. "I literally say “I think I want to start a fight, which one is your girlfriend?” The whole song is funny because I am so focused on how shitty Michael is that I don’t even think about how shitty I might be as well."
In a hysterical twist, the chorus lyric "Hey Michael, you American Psycho" is flipped at the end of the video as Wallice channels Patrick Bateman and all of the 'Michaels' meet a brutal demise.
She's got relatable song topics and the catchy melodies to back it up, topped off with a wicked sense of humour. Wallice is set to blow up in 2021.