Around this time last year, a big sexual assault scandal surrounding jury members of The Voice Of Holland – a Dutch talent show – surfaced. The exposé caused a ripple effect in the music industry. One of the artists triggered by these harrowing revelations was emerging alt-pop songwriter/producer Luna Morgenstern, who sprung into action with an anthem that speaks in solidarity with the victims.
“I was so angry and appalled by the victim’s accounts, that I had to transfer these emotions into a song'”, Morgenstern comments. “I wanted to write an anthem to all people who have experienced any form of sexual assault in their life. It shouldn’t be a sad song, but one that could be played at a party and that would make people want to dance, in order to reclaim ownership over their bodies.”
The song in question became “IDONTOU”, which subverts champagne-soaked late 90s/early 00s trance pyrotechnics in a cheeky cut-up way, paraphrasing many of the sleazeball platitudes women in the music industry are still subjected to regularly by males in position of power. It reminds of the way Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul reclaim derogatory language and turn it against the oppressor, a decisively punk rock ploy put into refreshing new contexts. Obviously, trance music is associated with hedonism; Morgenstern shrewdly enforces the music’s punch with a crystal clear mantra: “You don’t own me / I don’t owe you”.
“IDONTOU” reinforces Luna Morgenstern as a name to keep watching closely. She’s a multi-faceted artist as well, as her previous music explores a whole range of sensibilities. Last Fall, Morgenstern released the excellent midtempo single “Little Girl”, operating on a similar wavelength as Blood Orange, Chairlift and Phoenix.
Watch the video for “IDONTOU” here, below and find the song on streaming services.
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