PREMIERE | Mirrorball, "Take a Shot"

Leaps of faith and games of chance are strange bets. Whether or not we consider ourselves the sporting type, the choices we make and the routing decisions made at forks in the road present new highways that roll the dice towards the random array of events that arrive as a result of our own volition. In many ways we are all in our own particular choose your own adventure tale where to an extent we are at the controls. And though we are the executive directors of our own stories, the desired results can differ thanks to all of the externalities that are well beyond our grasp and reasons of our own reach. Every dive into the unknown offers a chance at something exciting, a chance of something mundane, a chance of something life changing, a chance toward something greater, a chance of something worse, or just a chance of life continuing at its own current pace.

Thus is the nature of Mirrorball’s new single “Take a Shot” from the LA’s duo upcoming debut EP. Recorded by producer/engineer legend Chris Coady after discovering their debut single “This Time” via Dangerbird Records, Alexandra Johnstone and Scott Watson journey through the lenses of time to spin reels that reveal how the paths of the past, present and future offer roads of unlimited surprises and unexpected avenues. The spinning propellers of the song’s arrangement offers a surrender into the arms of the arbitrary, partially resigning to the c’est la vie creed of whatever may be might be. Mirrorball shares the paradox of our own choices, finding a peace of mind in relinquishing control of everything that cannot be planned at the behest of our own decisive actions.

“Take a Shot” twinkles and shines like the luminescent effects that lights up a ballroom floor during a slow dance. Alexandra and Scott send the world an ode to the spinning wheels of the world, the tumbling dice, the whirling tops, the revolving roulettes, the analogies and metaphors that allude to the wonder of what might arrive in our world as it continues to turn on its axis. Mirrorball understands the unpredictability of life, the importance of trying your hand at engagements that might be out of your league or past the precipice of your own understanding or full comprehension. The duo delivers a tribute to taking chances, knowing full well that the end results cannot be totally anticipated or predicted like the bets made at a racetrack or arbitrary lots cast into the daily fantasy sports gaming apps that offer the promise of nebulous rewards. The underlying message underscores a high degree of unpredictability that permeates our existence, orchestrated like a spring evening dream drawn from the memories and pages of life that play out more complicated than the forces of algorithmic mechanics, equations and other such superstitions.

The self-made visuals from the artists blends vintage vibes with a sense of modern day cool that embraces the unknown and the ennui of memory. Mixing in footage of a day at Santa Anita Park and midday meditative moments; Alexandra Johnstone, Scott Watson and Nathan Van Hala are seen placing their bets and reflecting on the sincerity of taking a shot at life and accepting the results of the unexpected. From a day at the racetrack to an intimate afternoon in the sun room; Mirrorball delivers through song and video the head and heart swimming sensations that exemplify the full manifestation of their chosen moniker. The artists make a craft for lonely wallflowers and lovers alike that are looking for that one last dance before the band, DJ and/or bartender calls it a night.

Reflecting on photos of the Santa Anita Racetrack taken by Alexandra Johnstone's father in the 1970s, the artist provided the following reflections on the inspirations behind the new single:

I would think about the people in the photos and what their lives were like. I would wonder if they ever scored that big win and how things panned out for them.

Single artwork for “Take a Shot”; courtesy of the artist / Dangerbird Records.

It’s about taking your shot at life and betting on the next horse be it good or bad. It’s a little bit of a challenge too. Have you ever felt that someone wants to say something to you, but for some reason they can’t say it, and you want them to just take their shot? Let’s just leave the cards on the table, no matter how they lay.

Mirrorball’s single “Take a Shot” will be available via Spotify and everywhere March 8.