Fiddlehead Share New Video For “Down University” From Recent LP ‘Between The Richness’
Following their critically-acclaimed sophomore album Between The Richness, which was released back in May, alternative/punk outfit Fiddlehead have shared the new music video for “Down University”, a stand-out single from the record that reflects on frontman Pat Flynn’s crippling self-doubt.
About “Down University”, Flynn shares: “This song is about how I got trapped in this Darwinian mentality where everything was approached with extreme doubt and felt like a total failure. For some reason, despite growing up in an environment that promoted the Deweyan idea of education as liberation, I came to view it as a pure means to status in some weird grief-stricken attempt to live up to some made up idea of standards I believed would help me ‘prove myself’ to my father in the wake of his passing.
Luckily, my good senses came to me and in some way I found a greater sense of connection with him in remembering his true take on human achievement and how it had nothing to do with materialistic status markers. The music spoke this whole lyrical idea for a song to me in a sort of mocking manner. A fairly upbeat, cheer-leading chant for one of the more unnecessarily down and out times in my life.”
A ripping vocal melody and power pop guitar hooks build up the roaring, introspective track. Leaning into both the intensity of the track and its education-driven lyricism, the accompanying music video reflects on Flynn’s words. Director/Fiddlehead guitarist Alex Henery shares, “I wanted to capture the feeling that Pat sings about when referring to the stress and weight of degrees, studying, grades and how that can be a physical burden at times. The work and effort of school is something to be proud of, you don’t have to carry the stigma and stress but instead can build something with your experiences and the lessons you’ve learnt. When I told Pat the idea, he laughed and told me, ‘on the last day at Brown I did actually have a stack of books up to my chin, that I was lugging through campus.’ I think that sealed the deal that I had to make this video.”
Watch the video below and catch Fiddlehead on tour in the U.S. (dates just past):
Tour dates:
Upcoming Shows:
09/17/21 Boston, MA @ Hardcore Stadium *
09/18/21 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church %
09/19/21 Brooklyn, NY @ Market Hotel ^
09/24/21 San Francisco, CA @ TBA #
09/25/21 Anaheim, CA Chain Reaction #
09/26/21 Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 #
02/22/22 London, UK @ Underworld
02/23/22 Bristol, UK @ Exchange
02/24/22 Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store
02/25/22 Manchester, UK @ Rebellion
* w/ Ekulu, Blair, Move
% w/ Ekulu, Blair, Worn
^ w/ Ekulu, Blair, Hotline TNT
# w/ Militarie Gun, Object of Affection
