Premiere: Trophy Wife Go Deep in the Woods with “So Hard”
Trophy Wife. Photo Credit: Renee Newman.
Formed in the DIY basement scene during their time at Berklee College of Music, Trophy Wife have built a reputation for turning discomfort into an unapologetic confession. Now based in Brooklyn, the trio—McKenzie Iazzetta (vocals, guitar), Christian Pace (bass), and Michael Martelli (drums) stand as one of indie rock’s most compelling new acts, pairing diaristic honesty with a bite that recalls 90s alt-rock and grunge’s golden years.
Following the release of their debut album Get Ugly, which was a raw and triumphant nod to ’90s angst that explored the messier sides of self-acceptance, the band return with “So Hard,” an aching new single that asks: “What am I willing to give up in order to get what I want?”
Nestled somewhere between the blistering alt-country of Wednesday and the vulnerable confessions of Blondshell, “So Hard” captures Trophy Wife at their most refined yet unguarded. Over churning guitars and smouldering percussion, Iazzetta‘s voice reaches toward something just out of grasp. “It’s about wishing things could be as simple as they are in your head, and the bargaining you’re willing to do to get what you want,” she explains. “Is all the compromise worth the crumb of the fantasy you’re left with?”
Trophy Wife. Photo Credit: Renee Newman.
If Get Ugly was Trophy Wife’s declaration of grit, “So Hard” feels like the exhale that follows, the uneasy peace struck between chaos and clarity. The band’s knack for emotional release shines brighter than ever, their sound soaked in alt-rock drama, grunge, and a vintage warmth that hints at the classic records they grew up on.
The accompanying music video deepens that tension: shot on what appears to be vintage film in a sun-streaked forest, it evokes a hazy 1970s dreamscape with a folklore-meets-cult aesthetic that feels both sacred and slightly sinister. Iazetta, dressed in red shoes reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz, wanders through it all like a lost protagonist searching for meaning, or maybe home.
“So Hard” marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Trophy Wife, one where fantasy and reality bleed together, and vulnerability is wielded like a weapon.
