Released on February 6, 2025, “Audacity” by Oreaganomics isn’t your typical protest song—it’s a lo-fi, experimental anthem forged in a basement, recorded on BandLab, and infused with a level of raw urgency and meaning that many contemporary releases shy away from. It’s bold, unpolished, and oddly beautiful in its simplicity, tackling themes of authority, censorship, and the consequences of speaking truth to power.
Hailing from Lincoln, United States, Oreaganomics is carving their own space in the indie underground with a rebellious edge and a taste for the unconventional. With “Audacity,” their third single from the upcoming album And Introducing…Shane!!!!, they’ve managed to strike a balance between poetic disobedience and raw emotional power—while still keeping things experimental, even weird.
In a musical landscape where protest songs are often brash or buried under metaphor, “Audacity” stands out by being pretty, even while it points a finger. It’s an unusual but intentional contradiction. The track is lyrical and sonically delicate at times, yet doesn’t water down its message. It’s a song about the double standards of power—how those in control can act with impunity, while dissenters pay the price.
It’s not subtle. It’s not polished. But it doesn’t need to be. “Audacity” succeeds in doing something a lot of so-called protest music doesn’t: it makes you feel the weight of its message without shouting at you.
The lo-fi texture of “Audacity” is not an aesthetic choice made in a studio—it’s the natural result of its recording environment: a basement, and BandLab, the online music-making platform. But instead of working against the song, the homegrown setup enhances its urgency and realness. You can hear the rough edges, the imperfections, and that’s exactly what makes it hit harder.
Then there’s the mystery surrounding band member Shane, who hasn’t spoken to the group since the song was completed. It’s not clear if this is a serious fallout, an artistic choice, or part of the album’s strange mythos (And Introducing…Shane!!!! certainly leans into the ambiguity). But that silence adds a weight to the process—something happened during the making of this track, and you can feel it in every note.
Citing Love as a primary influence, Oreaganomics channels the spirit of late ’60s experimentation and off-kilter beauty into a track that’s rooted in today’s struggles. “Audacity” echoes the vibe of a time when music actually challenged systems, not just trends. There’s a vintage quality to the band’s sound—like a scratched vinyl spinning in your garage—but the lyrics are all 2025.
What’s more striking is how rare this kind of song is. As the band points out, “You still get no protest songs in mass despite all things.” In a world that’s louder and more chaotic than ever, “Audacity” finds a way to cut through—not by being louder, but by being realer.
While “Audacity” is experimental and raw, it’s also deliberate. This is Oreaganomics at a moment when they “figured stuff out,” musically and thematically. It’s a track that represents a turning point in their album and their identity as a band.
The song is strange in all the best ways: part protest, part art project, and part mystery wrapped in lo-fi fuzz. It’s also genuinely enjoyable—catchy, pretty, and thoughtful—without ever becoming preachy or overwrought.
“Audacity” is a song that doesn’t just deserve to be heard—it deserves to be thought about. It’s one of those rare pieces of music that feels both personal and political, both thrown together and completely intentional. It reminds us that protest songs don’t always have to scream—they can hum, echo, or even whisper and still land with impact.
Oreaganomics might not be headlining festivals yet, and they’re still waiting on tour invites, but if “Audacity” is anything to go by, they’re on to something important. It’s punk without the costume, indie without the polish, and protest music without the playbook. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.
If you’re tired of overproduced rebellion and empty slogans, give “Audacity” a spin. Just don’t be surprised if it lingers longer than expected.