Totally Mild is a lush-pop band hailing from Melbourne that originally started out as the solo project of songwriter Elizabeth Mitchell, whose perceptive lyrics are still the mainstay of the band’s sound despite its evolution into a quartet. Now, Mitchell joined by guitarist Zachary Schneider, drummer Ashley Bundang and bassist Lehmann Smith embark on their second album release, Her. Although we’ll have to wait until February next year to hear the LP in full, we do have lead single ‘Today Tonight’ to wet our appetites. Shivering guitars and and lustrous melodies set the background for Mitchell’s glamorous vocals that express off-kilter imagery of isolation, depression and the “guilt of unproductivity.” Speaking about the track, Totally Mild’s leader explains: "Written during a long period of unemployment, 'Today Tonight' is quite literally me passing the days waiting for my girlfriend to come home from work. Sinking into the kind of depression that comes from doing nothing when you have the time to do whatever you want [...] The house becomes a trap, you’re not interesting enough to leave it anyway.” The music video, directed by Tobias Willis, translates this theme into a kind of Hollywood fall from the spotlight, as though regular society is silver screen where some choose not leave and others are pushed out. ‘Today Tonight’ is a fascinating take on unemployment and loneliness. We look forward to more from Totally Mild. - HT