As both lovers in life and lovers of music, the Brooklyn-based duo The Bergamot show vulnerability with their latest single, “Breakdown.”
The Bergamot consists of Jillian Speece (vocals/cajón) and Nathaniel Paul Hoff (vocals/guitar/keyboard). The two first bonded in high school, and reconnected after college to release their first album, Smile. This prompted their first tour in 2010, which consisted of dive bars, small clubs, and busking for gas money.
Since then, they’ve gotten married, won an Emmy for, “Trailblazer: The Bergamot,” and have been regarded as, “The hottest emerging music talent” by People Music. While their humble days of busking are over, the two haven’t taken their foot off the pedal when it comes to a passion for simply making music. In an interview with ALT77, Hoff expressed boredom with formulaic pop music in its current state, but despite that, he continues to work on his intricacies and hopes he can keep people guessing, even if just a little.
The new single, “Breakdown,” offers just that. The atmospheric song has some tasty guitar licks emerging out of the synth backdrop that puts the listener in a trance. The duo captures the feeling of a mental breakdown with melancholic instrumentals, but they build to uplifting moments that shine.
Most people have experienced a breakdown in some form, and it can be a difficult subject to discuss. What the music video expresses, however, is that opening up about these times is a sign of strength. The video for the song is shot in a scenic mountainous landscape with the subject immersing themselves into it. There’s a long, flowing cloth draped over the individual that goes with the wind in a glowing moment of acceptance.
The Bergamot offers a remedy for tough times with their latest track, much like bergamot orange extract (a critical finding in my research), and we look forward to seeing what comes next from this unique husband and wife duo.
