Here’s the latest single from Illinois singer-songwriter Pokey LaFarge. The Thing is a brilliantly moody song, built around insistent percussion and an infectious groove that makes you want to move and sway. LaFarge delivers a smooth vocal performance that could have been lifted from any point in the last few decades – this is classic songwriting and a timeless performance. Directed by Jacob Butler, the accompanying video mixes found footage and LaFarge playing live to reinforce the atmosphere.
The forthcoming album, Rent Money, will be released on 11th September 2026 via LaFarge’s own Boxer Boy Records. The Thing will be the opening track, setting the tone for the rest of the collection. LaFarge says of the song: “The foundation of the record. The first song written for the record and a positive retort to my own ‘F*** Me Up.’ A reminder that usually the one who craves to have more and more will usually be the most dissatisfied.”
LaFarge creates songs that cross boundaries of genre and confound expectations. Threaded through these songs are influences from urban blues, rock ‘n’ roll, boogie, country and many more styles. He explains: “People are always going to tell you what they think you should play, what you should sing about, how you should sound, how you should look, how you should act. And I’ve always just been like, nah. Nope. I’ve just completely gone my own way, and hopefully I’ve been honest and authentic in the process. I’m just trying to make music that AI can’t replicate. Things are so homogenized right now. That’s what I’m really, really, really resistant to, especially when it comes to music. I’m not going to do it. I’m not going to conform.” That’s a great message and sense of purpose. Enjoy.
