Montreal-based multidisciplinary artist Peet Massé’s engaging indie rock outfit Hey Gorgeous has achieved something absolutely significant with his debut album, International Breakthroughs. Massé famously transitioned from contemporary visual arts into music while completing his master’s degree, building a signature sound that seamlessly blends raw alternative rock and catchy Britpop hooks with pulsing deep house rhythms. After a dedicated three-year cycle of single releases, the absolute crown jewel of this 11-track collection is the stunning new single, “Rocker on a Club Run.”
Instead of a straightforward indie hymn, “Rocker on a Club Run” is a fitful late-night trip through sound and self. Style-wise, the song is an energetic meeting point of alternative rock and electronic house. A strong electronic kick drum pounds out a persistent four-on-the-floor pace and nasty synthesizer basslines simmer underneath. An exciting tug-of-war of sound with ripped, distorted rock guitar chords ripping through the air over this club-ready bass. Massé’s tired, conversational vocal delivery drifts over this turmoil like an intimate personal monologue whispered in a crowded, noisy room.
The music video, directed by StephanieAnne Weber-Biron, brings this physical and emotional tension to life. The video is a bizarre 24-hour trip around Montreal’s local creative venues, La Casa Del Popolo, Le Système and the CDEx gallery. These landmarks are visual signposts for an artist trying to navigate the dense terrain between the raw fury of live rock and the hypnotic lure of dance culture, tracing an emotional movement toward ultimate artistic freedom.
“Rocker on a Club Run” finds its genuine strength in delving into the psychological toll of moving between cultures that are at odds with one another. The song portrays the deep tiredness of attempting to establish a sense of belonging in places that seem to be intentionally rejecting each other. It’s a great metaphor for an identity crisis, the struggle to find a peaceful place to connect, where the different, contradictory parts of who we are can finally live together.
The best description of our daily life is this inner struggle. Every day we are pulled in different directions, between the soothing assurance of stability and the exhilarating, scary longing for the unknown. We find it hard to bridge the gap between where we are coming from and where we are frantically wanting to get to, often donning numerous masks to suit competing expectations. The song gently reminds us that the path to self-discovery isn’t about winning an internal war or having to pick one side of ourselves.
But real personal progress and emotional survival are the product of a careful reconciliation of our own dualities. It’s in this uncomfortable, sweaty, and glorious friction that we ultimately find who we really are. “Rocker on a Club Run” is a brilliant, very relatable classic that speaks directly to the modern human experience. Turn up your headphones, turn down the lights and let this hypnotic late night beat take you into your own reflections.
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