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Oct 17, 2024 By Caleb Campbell Photography by Jasper Soloff

​Tomorrow, Chicago singer/songwriter BONZIE is set to release her latest full-length album, When I Found The Trap Door. The album is the fourth LP from Nina Ferraro under the name BONZIE and follows her 2021 album, Reincarnation. At various points in time over her decade-long career, BONZIE’s music has touched on various strains of art pop, post rock, folk, R&B, and jazz, establishing an eclectic wealth of influences. For her latest record, BONZIE weaves these influences into delicate and minimalist forms, touching on enchanting chamber pop orchestral arrangements, smokey jazz slow-burns, and contemplative folk confessionals, all written and produced by BONZIE herself.

She explains of the decision to self-produce the record, “This album feels like a culmination of all the knowledge I’ve gained through years, and the tools I’ve developed through observing all the incredible people I’ve worked with. It was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done, but it was so satisfying to be in a constant state of learning and growing and getting better.”

The full album is out tomorrow, on October 18th, but ahead of the release, BONZIE is sharing an early listen to one of its highlights, “Hollywood,” along with an accompanying video, premiering with Under the Radar.

“Hollywood” is a winding portrait of the falsity and competition in the entertainment business, delivered via a simmering jazz ballad. Although the track tones down the glitz and glamor usually associated with show business, the meditative keys do have a gentle luminous glow to them, bolstered by the sprawling jazz drumming. Meanwhile, BONZIE’s vocals are glassy and immaculate, encapsulating the effortless beauty of Old Hollywood. Yet, this crystalline vocal performance takes on a different tone later in the track. The piano drifts into a lurching, discordant interlude before settling back into a vacant, placid sheen, all as BONZIE’s lyrics offer a sinister warning: In Hollywood / You can die / You can try / Be one of the guys / Be one of The Greats / Whatever it takes.”

BONZIE says of the track, “Hollywood, baby. A song about that good old show biz competition. It’s the classic story. I think it’s a song anyone can relate to no matter where in the world you are, though. For the drum part, I wanted it to be a caricature of a “jazz groove.” It’s angular and doesn’t exactly “fit” the song and I liked that. I wanted it to represent pressures jazz players often feel to conform to the styles of the “masters.” For the music video, we wanted to lean into the DIY ‘pop star.’ Pink wig, pink dress, the whole nine. We had fun with it. Had to shoot in LA in front of the Hollywood sign. We shot a lowrider car with hydraulics in the background because, Hollywood. You love it, you hate it, you love to hate it.”

Check out the song and video below. When I Found The Trap Door is out everywhere on October 18th. Pre-save the record here.