For all their ferocity on and off stage, DOWNGIRL are not immune to the same dangers that shadow so many women in male-dominated spaces. ‘CPR’ pulls its story from a gig gone wrong, a night far from home where the air felt wrong from the start. Surrounded by drugged-up crowds and aggressive men, the band found themselves retreating into a tiny tent, clutching a baseball bat and waiting for daylight.
DOWNGIRL want to be clear that real change begins with men taking responsibility for the environments they create, the behaviours they normalise, and the silence they allow. The track stands as a release of everything they carried that night and a reminder that safety should never be a privilege earned but a condition upheld by everyone.
About ‘CPR’: ‘CPR’ is DOWNGIRL at their most volatile. Snarling, blown-out guitars crash against pounding drums, creating a wall of distortion that feels both feral and defiant. Alex Neville’s vocals slice through with venom and urgency, spilling frustration, adrenaline and the lingering panic of the night that inspired it. The result is a cathartic battle cry.
For the music video, DOWNGIRL wanted to reclaim that fear and flip it on its head by creating a space rooted in strength, pride, and community. They centred queer joy and safety, featuring Dykes on Bikes as a symbol of power and solidarity. Directed and shot by Tim Kent (they/them), the clip celebrates the protective, vibrant spaces queer communities build, the places where DOWNGIRL feel like they can breathe easy.
