Republic Records’ The Scarlet Opera has returned with a new five-song release
Continuing their rapid rise to pop-rock stardom, millennial quintet The Scarlet Opera has offered new ruminations and love and individuality on Mirror, Mirror. The band released the first two singles this past spring, “Catch Me If You Can,” followed by “Someone’s Gotta Love ‘Em.”
The group held back the two ballads, “What Good is Love” and “God Damned Beautiful” for the release. “What Good is Love” has a big 80-synth sound and head-banging melody. It’s a cathartic listening experience for anyone trying to move on after a broken heart.
“God Damned Beautiful” is the climax to the album, starting with just Luka and piano, building to a power-ballad crescendo of self-affirmation. It’s a beautiful song with the most blunt version of Scarlet Opera’s salvo as a band: No matter who you are, who you love, what you look like or believe, you are worth everything.
Of course, that message can be played with a little bit. The EP’s stand out is “Slutty,” a jaunty number about a “dirt bag lover,” who makes the main character feel “so slutty.” And, well, he’s not complaining. It’s a fun number live, and that energy translates well to the band’s playing on the recording. It’s the bassy groove of David Bowie’s “Fame” that meets the vibe of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.” It will be your summer pop earworm.
“For better or for worse, this music ended up being a reflection of our trials and tribulations being a band the past few years—the complexities of falling sucker to industry hypemen paralleled eerily well to the simultaneous love affairs happening behind the scenes. Mirror, Mirror will always be a poignant reminder for us to keep our circle tight, the romance in the ride and our joy protected, at all costs. More music, sooner,” the band shares about the project.
Usually, EPs can come off like drafts of ideas for records. Not fleshed out, and thrown together. But The Scarlet Opera has treated Mirror, Mirror and last year’s Comedy with as much respect and artistic intelligence as one would expect on a full-length album. The themes are cohesive, and the songs fit together to tell a story. If Comedy’s story was about building confidence, Mirror, Mirror is about embracing and using it.
That they were able to keep up the same quality on their second multi-song outing will hopefully prove to Republic that it’s time to give The Scarlet Opera a full album. Mirror, Mirror is another A+ offering from a band that is undeniably on its way to the top. It will reach even more fans and get them saying “Hey bitch, I’m with the band.”
Fusing the grandeur of the theatre with the raw energy of rock and roll, The Scarlet Opera – a five-piece band hailing from Los Angeles – offers an escape into the throes of love, lust, glamour, and passion. Formed as Perta in 2016 and reborn in 2022, The Scarlet Opera is led by lyricist and frontman Luka Bazulka, whose authentic narrative and vocal prowess are matched only by the musical talents of keyboardist Colin Kenrick, bassist Daniel Zuker, drummer Justin Siegal, and guitarist Chance Taylor.
The band’s origins are tied to one fateful night when Colin, upon witnessing Luka perform an inspiring solo vocal set, enlisted longtime friends and seasoned musicians Daniel, Chance, and Justin to provide a new dimension to what was already brimming with potential. Word of packed venues and a captivating live show soon drew the attention of SB Projects and Republic Records, who turned to hit songwriter and producer David Stewart [BTS, Jonas Brothers] to collaborate, inspire, and further ignite an already growing fire. In 2023, the group took flight with their debut Comedy EP uplifted to soaring heights by breakout singles “Alive” and “Riot.” In its wake, they made their late-night television debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden and launched a
successful tour earmarked by one sold-out gig after another.
