There's something wonderfully unsettling about Dorothy Key's approach to indie-pop. The New York-based, LA-raised singer-songwriter has always been drawn to theatrical storytelling, building individual worlds through her music and finding the darker details hiding beneath seemingly familiar experiences. Her latest single, ‘Toes’, is a perfect example of that instinct.
Written during a solo trip to Italy, the track began in a hotel room in Genoa, where a melody came together almost by accident. But beneath its nostalgic, early-2000s energy sits a much stranger inspiration: the Brothers Grimm-style darkness of Cinderella's stepsisters, who famously cut their toes and heels in an attempt to fit into the glass slipper. It's an unusual reference point, but one that gives the song its edge, turning the familiar fairytale into something far more uncomfortable.
At its heart, ‘Toes’ explores the feeling of wanting someone to understand the hurt they've caused, with Dorothy using the story's grotesque imagery as a metaphor for the lengths we might go to in order to feel wanted. There's a playful quality to the track, but it never quite settles into something sweet. Instead, its nostalgic sound is undercut by a darker emotional thread that makes the whole thing feel slightly off-kilter.
That tension carries into the accompanying music video, where Dorothy plays a heightened, powerful version of herself - someone who commands the attention and admiration she might otherwise feel she's missing. As the story unfolds, that version of herself becomes consumed by the very people who love her. It's a visual exploration of validation, identity and the uncomfortable consequences of becoming what you think everyone else wants you to be.
Written and performed by Dorothy, and co-produced alongside Gary Atturio, ‘Toes’ offers another glimpse into the theatrical world she's been developing ahead of her debut album. A project shaped by a decade-long journey of getting over someone, the forthcoming record promises plenty of emotional ground to cover.