New V.V. Single - OUT TODAY!
Listen to "Best Problem" but don't get too dizzy...
I’m so happy to (finally) share a new song with you all today called “Best Problem”. It’s been a minute since I’ve released new music and I couldn’t be more excited about this one. Listen, buy it, share with friend, add to a playlist, repeat, etc. Thanks :’)
Don’t miss the accompanying music video featuring a jacket made of my old YMCA swim team ribbons that my friend Shannon Marks helped me make. The jacket is everything. Don’t be fooled, it has a lot of 12th place and “personal best” ribbons on it. Go Dolphins! Shot by Tim Nagle & colored by Kerry Stevens:
You want something casual
something easy and free
something easy and free
well, I want you to get what you want
but you know that’s not up to me
This song is 2 parts advice column & 1 part confessional. The advice is for a friend whose “problem” is that everyone wants to be in a serious relationship with them, but it’s just not what they’re looking for. Everywhere they turn (360 degrees!), there’s someone who is developing goo-goo eyes and wants to settle down… and boy are they stressed!
Is it not the best problem to have?
Everyone wants to be with you
360 around the room,
Everyone wants to be with you
You spin around, and suddenly you’re in a dark bar watching your friend’s exes flirting. This is great news for everybody! If they can’t be with you, they can be with each other:
At the bar, I see your exes talkin’
looks like they’re hitting it off
must be nice to know that your rejection
has set the scene for someone else
The bridge transports you (to a disco?) and also switches to the perspective of the pursuers. It’s almost tragic. BE MY WIFE, they scream:
I don’t know why!
You won’t be my wife.
I don’t know why!
You won’t spend the rest of your life with me
Based on a true story. Maybe I’ll sell the secret in 30 years a la Carly Simon “You’re So Vain”.
I’ve been playing “Best Problem” live for a while now, but the recording captures something indulgent that I wouldn’t be able to do live and I love it that way. Why wouldn’t we record a Bee Gee’s inspired breakdown with Macie Stewart working her string-section magic? Why wouldn’t I add a little wah pedal? No reason not to. This song is a step into a new V.V. Lightbody sound - carefree, groovy, direct.
I was lucky to have a solid crew for tracking ~ Jack Henry Lickerman on drums, Sam Cantor on bass, and Emma Hospelhorn on keys and harms. I love them very much. We started this in January 2024 with Dave Vettraino, one of my favorite friends and collaborators. Dorian Gehring and Jack Henry helped with additional tracking and Greg Obis mastered it at Chicago Mastering Service.
Thanks to my brother, Stan, and McGuirk for some gentle lyrical nudging. Thanks to Shannon for the creative direction. <3
XO,
V.V.