Exploring Desire and Framing in Lucy Dacus’s “Ankles”
In the visually captivating music video for “Ankles,” the lead single from Lucy Dacus’s highly anticipated fourth studio album, the artist embodies a pleasure-seeking Victorian damsel who has dramatically escaped the confines of a painting to indulge in the vibrant streets of Paris. Her counterpart in this whimsical narrative is a stern museum guard, tasked with the challenging duty of corralling her back into her designated frame.
Dacus conceptualized this intriguing idea as a metaphorical exploration of the constant tension between curiosity and restraint, themes that resonate deeply within the lyrics of the song. In her own words, “The song is pretty horny, so it’s not like I was going to recreate what happens.” This playful admission highlights Dacus’s willingness to embrace the more provocative aspects of her work, while still maintaining an artistic depth.
Frames have emerged as a recurring motif in Dacus’s artistic expression. She previously utilized a frame in a music video for a track from her second album, “Historian,” during her rise as an indie singer-songwriter. Additionally, she prominently poses within a frame on the cover of her latest LP, “Forever Is a Feeling.” Dacus reflects on this motif, stating, “Framing is such a huge part of art. What are you putting in the confines of the frame? What are you filling in time? What are you putting in front of people?”
The overarching theme of “Forever Is a Feeling” solidified when Dacus recognized that she was writing a series of songs centered around the concept of love. This revelation prompted her to delve even deeper into the subject, leading to the creation of additional tracks. Notably, this album marks her first solo endeavor since the formation of boygenius — the celebrated indie-rock supergroup she co-created with Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker, which has since evolved into an arena-sized, Grammy-winning sensation. Dacus has also shared that one of these love songs is inspired by her close friend Baker.
In a recent phone interview conducted just before she was set to fly to Paris for a performance, Dacus opened up about the cultural essentials that enrich her life. Below are edited excerpts from that enlightening conversation.
