New Jersey rockers The Melancholy Kings present their latest single 'Victoria', a jangly guitar rocker resurrected and revamped from the time when the band members were busy wearing down the grooves of their REM, Miracle Legion and Replacements records. As the story goes, we all have our demons, and it’d be nice if we could all help each other exorcise them. This is the second taste of their sophomore album 'Her Favorite Disguise', released via Magic Door Record Label.

The core duo, singer/guitarist Mike Potenza (The Anderson Council, Crash Harmony, BARD, Gramercy Arms) and bassist Scott Selig (Ambulance, Uncle Moon, Deni Bonet Band, Super Tuesday), met while enduring the desolate misery of corporate life in a Midtown Manhattan law firm. Unknown to each other, they both had a secret past as musicians in the '90s and '00s NYC indie scene, having played in various "almost-famous" post-punk bands and toured as opening acts for legends. Escaping corporate misery, they rededicated themselves to music, solidifying the lineup with drummer Paul Andrew (Fluffer, Phantom Tollbooth) and guitarist Peter Horvath (The Anderson Council).

"Victoria was inspired by the party scene of the late 80’s, where it seemed to me people were alternately depressed or manic a lot of the time and not in that happy middle. I thought it would be nice if we could all settle down a bit, slow life down a tick or two and enjoy the little things together. That was the impetus," says Michael Potenza.

"We resurrected it when we started working on 'Her Favorite Disguise' by reworking some of the more dated lyrics (when we wrote the song, for instance, it was a pre-cell phone time so the first line about “staring into your phone” and an “app for demonology” was added later). The song is a bit of a time capsule to a guitar-forward, jangly, power pop time, but I do think the essential message — that we all have inner demons that could use some mutual kindness to exorcise — carries forward.

'Her Favorite Disguise' is the long-awaited follow up to their eponymous debut record - an unapologetic nod to the rough-hewn insouciance of '80s pre-grunge alt-rock. This album was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by renowned producer Ray Ketchem (Guided by Voices, Luna, Elk City, Gramercy Arms, Crash Harmony) at Magic Door Recording Studio.

“I think this song captures our live sound more thoroughly than any other on the album. Other than a dash of organ at the end, and guest vocalist Olivia Selig adding some thickening to the harmonies in the choruses, there are basically no other enhancements to the song. I think the raw energy of our live set really comes across as a result. The video starts and ends with the band discussing the song and the take, giving the viewer a taste of our process in the studio. This song probably has the least amount of overdubs than any on the album, so the video captured nearly its entire recording,” says Scott Selig.

Earlier, the band shared 'Bitcoin Elegy', a guitar-driven single about the inevitable decline of meaningful personal relationships in the digital age. Joined by vocalist Olivia Selig, this song is not actually an elegy about the famed king of cryptos, the song references Bitcoin as a noted marker for the post-analog world, the elegy here being specifically about the loss of interpersonal community.

The coming album features several guests, including Mac Gollehon (David Bowie, Al Jarreau, Duran Duran, Mick Jagger, Hall and Oates) on trumpet, cellist Carolyn Jeselsohn, vocalist Reneé LoBue of Elk City, accordionist Carl Riehl (Michelle Shocked, Uncle Moon) and Ray Ketchem on percussion.

As of October 23, 'Victoria' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On November 28, the 'Her Favorite Disguise' album will be released digitally and also on vinyl. It can already be pre-ordered on Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written by Mike Potenza and Peter Horvath
Mike Potenza – guitar, vocals
Peter Horvath - guitar, vocals
Scott Selig - bass, vocals, keyboards percussion
Paul Andrew - drums
Olivia Selig - vocals
Produced by Ray Ketchem, Scott Selig & The Melancholy Kings
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording Studio, Montclair, NJ
Additional recording by Scott Selig at The Old Stone House, Maplewood, NJ
Published by Hamilton Publishing (BMI) © 2025
© 2025 The Melancholy Kings
Released by Magic Door Record Label
Cover art & design by Ray Ketchem
Videos filmed & edited by Scott Selig
Band photos by Carlo Cipriani
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR