Premiere: Slow Joy Releases New Single & Video For 'King Cowboy'

Premiere: Slow Joy Releases New Single & Video For 'King Cowboy'

Slow Joy's new EP, Mi Amigo Slow JoyIt will be released via Mick Music on June 7th

April 26, 2024

By Mark Moody

Photo: Jay Martin

Today, Chicano solo artist based in Dallas Slow joy (aka Esteban Flores) releases the second single, “King Cowboy,” from his upcoming EP. Mi Amigo Slow Joy. “King Cowboy” was preceded by the EP's first single, “Pulling Teeth,” which was released on March 14. The EP was recorded at Barbershop Studios in New Jersey and produced by Mike Sapone (Oso Oso, Take Back Sunday). Mi Amigo Slow Joy will be available through all streaming services on its June 7th release date. Flores' previous EP, Litmusalso released by Mick Music in 2022.

Flores' earlier work was more directly emo-inclined, but Mi Amigo Slow Joy finds the work branching out with a wider variety of sounds and styles. Flores credits Sapone with pushing him down new creative paths. In EC's press release, Flores shares, “I'm such a creature of habit when it comes to creative things, I'll just keep repeating the same thing in the same room. I never had the time to experiment in a nice studio.” Litmus focused on the grieving and healing process in the wake of his mother's death, while Mi Amigo Slow Joy it is more internally focused.

“King Cowboy” is a tongue-in-cheek double-down on the macho mystery of the classic image of the American West. “The idea of ​​a brash cowboy doing everything in his power to convince the listener that he's the king of all cowboys while living a mundane life was perfect,” says Flores. “I wrote the song in my living room and it was one of those rare moments where the music and the lyrics came together at the same time.”

Though muted by layers of murky guitars, the song's lyrics give a bleak view of relationship dynamics. “Let's raise some kids who hate their lives” is followed shortly after by “we're drifting apart until we die.” But given Flores' love of the ironic, he follows each of these dismal thoughts with a chest brag about being the best of the best in chorus vocals. The song starts off with a gentle shredding, but quickly builds into a melodic line that then blossoms into a boomy alt-rock anthem. Flores plays all the instruments on the song with the exception of drums led by Travis Haile. And the outro of the song was invented by Sapone. “The final part is a sick delay track that Mike put on the vocals. When we heard it in the studio we lost our minds,” says Flores.

The EC title, Mi Amigo Slow Joy, is both a nod to his Mexican-American heritage and Flores' take on his musical work. “The days of rock star worship are over. Every person who listens to my music or comes to a show of mine would probably be a friend if we met in a different context,” explains Flores. The accompanying single shot lyric video was filmed on a ranch in neighboring Oklahoma. The video was directed by Jay Martin and shot by Thomas Blanks. Flores sings the words to “King Cowboy” while gradually picking up the tempo of the run as the song builds.

Although Mi Amigo Slow Joy isn't out until June, Flores, like a king, is already back in the studio with Sapone working on his debut full-length LP.

Mi Amigo Slow Joy track list:

1. 4U

2. Pulling teeth

3. King Cowboy

4. Lay Me Out, I'm Out of My Mind