Enter the otherworldly realm of Sex Week

Welcome back to Selections, a series of exclusive artist-curated Spotify playlists from those in the know.

Meshing slowcore textures, pop hooks, and black metal growls into love songs that feel like dreams turning sour, Richard Orofino and Pearl Amanda Dickson make up Brooklyn-based band Sex Week.

Since their formation – the duo originally bonded over a playlist Pearl made for Richard’s grade school roommate – and debut EP release in late 2023, they have settled into a liminal space of their own making, taking visual inspiration from David Lynch and David Cronenberg, and sonic influence from Wolf Alice and Stevie Nicks. Their songs drift between tenderness and dread, with accompanying visuals that transport you into the space with them. 

To chime with the recent release of EP Upper Mezzanine, and ahead of their All Points East debut, Sex Week has put together a playlist that offers a glimpse into the beautifully uneasy world they inhabit. 

“I think these songs have a slight levity or surprising sadness that can get a listener into a certain zone of exploration. Opening up a listener’s ear and catching their attention. With Atlantic City, there’s Bruce’s vocals echoing and wailing in the background. Sheena Ringo’s song starts with her screaming so loudly that it sounds like a tea kettle whistling. SuperSexyWoman is a hilarious description of said woman that I discovered waiting at the DMV”, Pearl says.

Richard says, “All these songs have a special quality about them that puts me in a focused and still place. A lot of my choices come mostly from the sounds and feelings attached which snap me into place. The punchy stabs in Saga or Empty work on me in a similar way to the soft mallets and bells in Spirales.”

Listen to the playlist below.