In Nightbitch’s most recent single, she takes on the David Bowie song “I’m Afraid of Americans” and turns it into a hard, industrial number that is both chilling and engaging. While retaining the melodious and catchy aspect of the song, Nightbitch layers thick and distorted guitar, ominous synthesizer, and sharp vocal performance to make this song a fresher take on Bowie’s classic.
This cover version is notable for how it actually deviates from the original in a number of ways; the arrangement adds an unsettling element and includes musicalissonance and minor chords. As does Bowie, Nightbitch’s interpretation accentuates the paranoid and sociopolitical aspects, but she brings a more personal passion to it. The aggressive rock aspects amplify the two-tiered feelings of attraction and repulsion integral to the song’s commentary on American culture, presenting a distinct interpretation of the material.
For the Nightbitch’s vocal performance is quite authoritative and only drives the grandiose of the song’s cover by going over the dense layer of industrial noise. Her voice adds to the song’s catchy arrangement and lyrics most of which are recorded during the chorus section where the music hits an alternative rock high-note supported by drums and guitar riffs. The outcome here is that the audio has a highly polished yet edgy sound.
It was recorded at an old industrial warehouse that was converted into a studio in Ramsgate with composer and producer Nicholas De Carlo and was mastered at Abbey Road Studios.
The song was written at a time when political tensions were higher than ever, which added another dimension to the song’s meaning. The performance of Nightbitch on ‘I’m Afraid of Americans’ is entertaining yet challenging and abrasive, which is something that perhaps can only be recognized once one has endured what Nightbitch has to say in her powerful cover.
