The new and upcoming band, Baton de Colle (introduced in a previous article) has finally announced their first single entitled “Sans Acide”. This is the first of many songs to be released in an ordered fashion. Only time will tell the release of their next song. The rag-tag quartet from New Orleans continues its trend of keeping their information on the down-low.
“Sans Acide” is a unique track with a rich background story. Phill Schaefer, founder and lead singer of Baton de Colle, lost his younger brother to drug abuse when he was merely a teenager. His brother’s addiction to drugs began with simply sniffing a nontoxic glue stick. After becoming a habitual sniffer, Schaefer’s brother moved on to harmful substances.
The name of the track “Sans Acide” comes from the labels of art supply store glue sticks. Although there is no chemical harm in the use of glue sticks, Schaefer’s brother treated them as a gateway to illegal drugs. Ironically, each product is marked nontoxic, but contains a deep danger beyond face value.
Schaefer’s childhood anecdote serves as the primary message of the song. In a recent interview, Schaefer noted that the song’s central focus was the criticism of corporations. According to the single, fine-print labels exist only to pass safety inspections and efficiently market products.
The theme of irony is further developed in the sounds of “Sans Acide.” Contrary to the song’s name, “Sans Acide” is heavily influenced by the psychedelic counterculture era of the 60s. The soft intro and subtle buildup throughout the track represent the rapid transformation from an innocent art supply to a dangerous substance.
As Baton de Colle’s first single, “Sans Acide” proved successful in the local scene. The city dwellers in New Orleans leaked a majority of the information known to the public. The band has not officially performed yet, and their self-established record label refuses to release the track on any streaming network. Only a select few can preview their music.
