Dead Sara’s Triumphant Return: Unpacking the Unintended Self-Empowerment Theme of ‘Ain’t It Tragic’ with Emily Armstrong
After a three-year hiatus from releasing a full-length album, the dynamic rock outfit Dead Sara has triumphantly re-emerged with their latest masterpiece, Ain’t It Tragic. While the Los Angeles-based band didn’t consciously set out to craft a concept album, frontperson, vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter Emily Armstrong shares an intriguing discovery about its overarching narrative. As the final touches were being applied to the record, a close friend offered a perceptive insight that resonated deeply, unveiling a cohesive thread that binds the eleven tracks together.
During an exclusive interview with HollywoodLife, Emily recounted this serendipitous realization. “It’s funny,” she mused, “A friend of mine, who’s going to be helping us play guitar — he’s coming on tour with us – he’s learning all the songs, and he [says] like, ‘there’s this theme to this album.’” This unexpected revelation sparked a moment of clarity for Armstrong, highlighting a message that, despite being unplanned, felt profoundly true to the band’s current ethos. And as Emily elaborates, this powerful, unifying theme is intrinsically linked to the spirit of “Heroes,” the album’s scorching lead single that captivated fans ahead of Ain’t It Tragic’s highly anticipated release.
“Heroes”: A Defiant Anthem of Self-Reliance
“Heroes” isn’t just a song; it’s a declaration. Clocking in at a concise yet impactful three minutes, this alt-rock powerhouse immediately grabs listeners with its surging guitars, an undeniable bass groove that lays a solid foundation, and Emily Armstrong’s signature knockout vocals that soar with raw emotion and commanding power. The track ingeniously takes the well-worn adage of “never meet your heroes” and completely redefines it, twisting the sentiment into a potent, self-empowering anthem for the modern age.
While Emily sings the compelling line, “All my heroes are dead, and they’re living in my head,” the feeling evoked is far from somber. Instead, listeners are hit with an electrifying surge of energy, a defiant refusal to be bound by external ideals or past influences. The song’s core message transcends the literal death of individuals; it’s a profound commentary on the demise of the very concept of relying on others for salvation or validation. This shift in perspective is beautifully articulated in the opening lines, where Emily candidly admits, “Used to think when I was younger / Somebody gonna come and save me.” By the song’s triumphant conclusion, there’s an unmistakable sense that she, and by extension, the listener, is more than capable of navigating life’s challenges and emerging victorious on their own terms.
The Long Road to “Heroes”: From Demo to Definitive Track
While “Heroes” stands out as one of the eleven electrifying tracks on Ain’t It Tragic, released on September 17th, its origins trace back much further than the album’s production cycle. Emily reveals that the band – comprising herself, guitarist Siouxsie Medley, and drummer Sean Friday – first started working on the foundational elements of the song in 2018, around the same time they released their acclaimed Temporary Things Taking Up Space EP. “This [song] was one of those born in that time, but it was merely a demo,” she explained. “It had a completely different bridge, different chorus, but there was a vibe to it. It was a vibe. And there was always something really fun about it.”
This period marked a significant turning point for Dead Sara, a transformative era where the band consciously honed their songwriting craft. Prior to this, their approach was more organic and improvisational. “Before that, we weren’t necessarily songwriters. We were just a band in a room and what sounded good, sounded good.” This evolution was crucial, pushing them to move beyond mere jam sessions and embrace a more structured, intentional approach to composition, carefully developing melodies, harmonies, and lyrical narratives. The development of “Heroes” encapsulates this transition, a testament to their dedication to growth and refinement.
“Around that time of the EP,” Armstrong continued, reflecting on their focused efforts, “We were really homing in on it. That was the hard part for us. So, we just kind of started to really look at that part. Like what is something that’s going to make us grow?” The initial spark for “Heroes” might have come from a riff by Siouxsie Medley, though Emily couldn’t recall the exact genesis. “I don’t know how it started, to be honest. We took it down to the piano, we messed with some chords and created a world to it, and we’re like, ‘okay, cool.’” Despite its promising beginnings and inherent “fun” factor, the demo ultimately didn’t make it onto the Temporary Things Taking Up Space EP, sitting in the band’s archives for several years, awaiting its moment to fully blossom.
A New Chapter with Warner Records and Lyrical Breakthrough
The long-awaited opportunity for “Heroes” to reach its full potential arrived when Dead Sara signed with Warner Records. When the band presented the track to their new label, it was met with immediate enthusiasm. “When we went to Warner, they were like, ‘yeah, this is good. This is good. There’s something to this one,’” Emily recounted. This validation provided the impetus needed to revisit and complete the song, transforming the promising demo into the polished anthem heard today. “And we’re like, ‘cool. All right, well, let’s finish it.’”
The breakthrough moment for the song’s lyrical and thematic direction came serendipitously. Emily recalled being in the studio, intently focused on the track, when she glanced down at her phone. On its screen, she saw the phrase “my heroes are dead” which she had previously jotted down. It was a simple yet profound observation, a personal reflection that perfectly encapsulated the burgeoning sentiment of the song. “I was spitting words. And I was like, oh, ‘all my heroes are dead.’ And I was singing that. And the band was like, ‘wait, that’s really cool.’”
At that precise moment, the entire essence of the song clicked into place for Emily. It was a refreshing departure from its initial incarnation. The 2018 demo had carried a more melancholic, almost “heartbreak-y” vibe, steeped in feelings of loneliness and sadness. “That’s what I remember, it’s just being sad, and it’s almost like the heartbreak-y song at the beginning. So it does have that feel. The chords and the melody and stuff like that. It has that kind of heartbreak and loss.” However, by fusing those initial emotional chords and melodies with the potent, defiant declaration of “all my heroes are dead,” something transformative occurred. This combination didn’t just add words to a feeling; it created a sense of completeness, reshaping the song’s emotional core from resignation to empowered resilience.
The “Heroes” Music Video: A Vibrant, Anti-Darkness Statement
This transformation from a melancholic undertone to a defiant burst of energy and light is nowhere more evident than in the “Heroes” music video. Eschewing the potential for a dark or somber visual interpretation that might have accompanied the “heroes are dead” lyric, Emily and the band opted for the exact opposite: a vibrant, energetic, and unapologetically fun aesthetic. Emily explains that this was a deliberate choice, particularly given the global climate. “I felt like I wanted to get away from anything that might’ve made the song feel dark with all my heroes are dead and it being a time of coming out of a pandemic and a world just feels like it’s imploding.”
“I didn’t want it to be dark,” she emphatically stated. Recalling initial concepts for the video, Emily mentioned, “when we did send out for treatments, a lot of it was Emily gets up out of bed, looks at the world and decides that it’s the end of the world kind of a thing. I wanted the opposite. I wanted to have fun with it and be energetic.” This desire for vibrancy led to a distinctly DIY approach, one that captured the band’s raw, authentic spirit. The visual style, notably utilizing a fish-eye lens, serves as a direct homage. “That’s an ode to a lot of the Beastie Boys videos, which we love so much,” Emily shared, highlighting their admiration for the iconic group’s innovative and playful visual storytelling.
Adding to the spontaneous charm of the video, Emily also revealed that this energetic, makeshift production came about after they had scrapped an entirely different video they had initially shot for “Heroes.” With the looming deadline for the video’s release, the band enlisted the help of their friend, Matt Odom, to quickly bring their vision to life. The urgent timeline only added to the unbridled, spontaneous energy captured on screen.
“It was like a race for time,” Emily recalled with a hint of exhilaration. “We just did it DIY, just ran around with a camera, had some locations in mind, like a friend’s apartment on top–and Susie’s apartment and then his house. So that added to the spontaneity of it that looks–I loved it. And we’re like, cool. This is exactly what it needed.” This impromptu, authentic process perfectly mirrored the song’s message, creating a visual narrative that is as genuine and unpretentious as Dead Sara itself.
“Ain’t It Tragic”: The Unfiltered Anthem of Self-Determination
Ultimately, the underlying chaos, spontaneity, and unvarnished authenticity captured in the “Heroes” video and throughout the creative process serve as a powerful metaphor for the overarching message of Ain’t It Tragic. That insightful friend, who is set to join Dead Sara on their upcoming tour, distilled the essence of “Heroes” into a compelling interpretation: “The theme of ‘Heroes’ was about ‘fuck you, but also not really, not in like a very antagonistic way,’ but just like, ‘I’m going to do me.’ This is literally everything he said. And he thinks that that is the theme of the whole album.”
Emily Armstrong, reflecting on her friend’s astute observation, initially feigned a playful disagreement. “I got to listen to it more, but I’m like, well, I was trying to argue with him for fun sake,” she admitted with a smile. However, she quickly conceded the truth in his assessment. “And I think he’s correct, and I do get sarcastic at times and stuff.” This theme of radical self-determination, of confidently asserting one’s individuality and forging a path independent of external expectations or perceived saviors, resonates deeply through every chord and lyric of Ain’t It Tragic. It’s a powerful statement in an era where authenticity and personal agency are more valued than ever.
The album invites listeners to embrace their inner strength, to recognize that they possess the resilience needed to overcome adversity without needing someone else to come to their rescue. It’s a defiant nod to the world, suggesting that after a heavy year marked by darkness and uncertainty—perhaps a subtle reference to the global pandemic and its profound impact—it’s time to consciously choose to let the light in, to celebrate individuality, and to forge ahead with unapologetic confidence. This message of empowerment, resilience, and self-belief permeates the entire record, making it a timely and resonant offering from Dead Sara.
Experience the Energy: Ain’t It Tragic and the 2021 Tour
Whether every listener interprets this underlying vibe of defiant self-reliance and optimistic resilience from Ain’t It Tragic—that profound sense that one is strong enough not to need saving, that the world can take a step back while “I’ll do me,” and that after a challenging period of darkness, it’s time to welcome the light—is ultimately open to individual interpretation. What is certain is that Ain’t It Tragic is out now, providing fans worldwide with the opportunity to dive deep into its compelling soundscape and form their own personal connections to its themes and messages.
Adding to the excitement, the album’s release on September 17th also marked the commencement of Dead Sara’s highly anticipated headlining 2021 tour. This tour offers fans a direct chance to experience the raw power and electrifying stage presence of Emily Armstrong, Siouxsie Medley, and Sean Friday live. For those eager to witness the band’s reinvigorated energy and hear the new tracks performed with their characteristic intensity, further details and tour dates can be found on their official website. Click here for dates.