Pictoria Vark explores the fleeting nature of life on Nothing Sticks
Pictoria Vark returns with Nothing Sticks, her sophomore LP, out now via Get Better Records. The album marks a new chapter for the Chicago-based artist, capturing the impermanence of life through her bass-driven sound.
Produced by: Victoria Park, Gavin Caine, and Bradford Krieger
Following an extensive 2022 tour in support of her debut, The Parts I Dread, Victoria Park found herself questioning the transient nature of her career and existence. “I was 23 and thrust into an abnormal, chaotic, and very public way of living immediately after graduating college with an underdeveloped support network,” she explains. “Focusing so heavily on playing live shows–these things with very explicit end dates–made me question if I was right to center my life around something so fleeting, until I realized everything is fleeting.” This realization became the foundation for Nothing Sticks, a meditation on endings as viewed through the lens of a musician.
Recorded at Big Nice Studio in Lincoln, RI, the album sees Park working alongside producers Gavin Caine and Bradford Krieger (Horse Jumper of Love, IAN SWEET) for a more focused and organic sound. Unlike her debut, which was recorded remotely, Nothing Sticks benefits from live studio performances and a collaborative energy. Park served as executive producer and main vocal producer, while Caine handled arrangements and Krieger brought his expertise in engineering to shape the sonic textures. The result is a more refined, confident record that expands her songwriting and instrumental reach.
Sonically, Park’s bass remains the foundation of her music, but Nothing Sticks pushes her creative boundaries further. Tracks like ‘San Diego’ and ‘Other Things’ mark the first time she incorporates her own guitar playing into her songs. Thematically, the album frequently references music itself, whether in lyrical wordplay—like the double meaning of “strings” in ‘Make Me A Sword’—or in its reflections on performance with tracks such as ‘I Sing What I See,’ ‘Lucky Superstar,’ and ‘We’re Musicians.’
Park says:
“On a sonic level, I was inspired by the way music appears in the world around us. Whether it’s a high school marching band in the distance (‘Sara’) or a friend playing piano aimlessly (‘Other Things’), it felt right to think about music in this meta way because so much of this album is about me reflecting upon music’s place in my life.”
With Nothing Sticks, Pictoria Vark transforms life’s fleeting moments into something tangible as she embrace the beauty of impermanence while offering listeners a compelling and deeply personal journey.
Standout Songs: ‘Sara,’ ‘No One Left,’ ‘Make Me A Sword,’ and ‘Where It Began.’
Release Date: March 21
7.3
We’ve covered Pictoria Vark previously: ‘Make Me A Sword.’
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