Velvet Penny Premieres Her Light New Single “Hot Air Balloon”

Some songs just sound like what their titles suggest, like this new one from Velvet Penny. “Hot Air Balloon” is the Los Angeles-based artist’s brand new single, which we are fortunate enough to premiere today. The song features a carnival kind of sound and feel to it, with very festive tones, and the sound of children having fun. It feels like a bit of an adventure, like an exciting, even somewhat nerve-wracking experience. In writing the song, Velvet Penny made sure to maintain some playful vibes throughout.

“Hot Air Balloon” is a bit of an ode to Frank Zappa and Danny Elfman, musicians who had a certain defined style. There was a humour or a lightheartedness to their music, something Velvet Penny has succeeded in mimicking. The release of the single comes as part of a split with psychedelic band Sol Societe. They are releasing their new single “Sambido.” The release comes via psych label Psylk Rd and After Hours Records.

Velvet Penny’s Marlena Martinez states:

“I was listening to the 7” record yesterday with my drummer, Victor, and I was ecstatic that after he played both sides, he flipped the disc over to play them over again. When Sol Societe and I were deciding on which songs to add to this split together, a huge determining factor was how great both tracks sound together and how well they match each other’s energy. We’re extremely grateful for Psylk Rd backing us on a limited run and are looking forward to pressing more for the future.”

“Hot Air Balloon” is more than just a fun-loving song that Velvet Penny hit on. It signifies a new direction for her as a singer-songwriter. It represents her full commitment towards exploring her artistry free of mental obstacles. Previous self-imposed mental limitations she might have imposed on herself, she has tried to free herself from. She feels that this is a breakthrough that all artists must encounter and achieve before they can really fully realize their creative abilities.

It’s also quite a change of pace from Velvet Penny’s previous release, 2022’s “All the Flowers.” That song was more experimental in nature, and it had a certain chill to it. The change in tone is partially attributable to how Velvet Penny has modified her writing and recording style. “All The Flowers” was written with some trusted studio musicians. “Hot Air Balloon,” on the other hand, was written more collaboratively with the seven-person band Penny has assembled over the last couple of years. It’s an exciting change in direction for her, and it emphasizes what a versatile songwriter Penny really is.

Tour Dates:

6/14 Pour House, Oceanside, CA
6/16 Valley Session, Las Cruces, NM
6/19 Sahara Lounge, Austin, TX
6/23 Juno, Albuquerque, NM
6/24 Linger Longer, Phoenix, AZ
6/26 Más o Menos, Joshua Tree, CA
6/27 Lopez Urban Farm, Pomona, CA