Some songs come from imagination, others from lived experience. For Original Pairs, their new single “Black Fiat” was born out of both—a romantic road trip that spiraled into a pressure cooker, transforming a small car into the unlikely stage for two lovers’ unraveling. That friction, equal parts speed and claustrophobia, now explodes through the band’s latest release, the second single from their forthcoming album surface tension.
From its first riff, “Black Fiat” throws listeners straight into the ride. The guitars snarl and race like an open highway, a Rhodes piano slips in funk-driven flourishes, and the rhythm section punches with raw urgency. At its breaking point, the track erupts into a fuzzed-out solo—a moment that feels less like embellishment and more like the engine blowing apart under the weight of emotion. The result is classic in spirit, yet bracingly alive in the present.
That intensity isn’t just performance—it’s chemistry. The song reflects the real-life dynamic between Lisa Logan, the band’s drummer and lead singer, and her partner, who together channeled the raw tension of their journey into music. With Lynda Kraar holding down the low end on bass, Jon Loewen layering keys, and co-producer John Dinsmore shaping the sound at Toronto’s Lincoln County Social Club, “Black Fiat” became less a track and more a living document of combustible emotion.
For Original Pairs, this authenticity is non-negotiable. Their work doesn’t mimic the past—it reinvents it. Sure, there are shades of ’70s road rock and echoes of Golden Earring or early AC/DC, but what sets them apart is the willingness to inject personal turbulence into the grooves. This isn’t retro cosplay; it’s storytelling through distortion and sweat.
The single also points to what lies ahead. With surface tension dropping November 1, the band will debut the record live at Toronto’s Tapestry Bar before hitting regional Canadian stages. The album promises twelve tracks that mine the volatile heart of rock’s golden decade—1968 to 1978—without losing sight of the present-day urgency that makes their sound crackle.
And if “Black Fiat” is any indication, Original Pairs aren’t just keeping classic rock alive; they’re proving it can still feel dangerous, romantic, and unpredictable. Sometimes the road gives you freedom. Sometimes it locks you in a box with no exit. Either way, Original Pairs will make sure the soundtrack hits hard.
“Black Fiat” is out now. surface tension arrives November 1, 2025.
Listen to the first single, Star Guitar:Spotify Link
Discover 2024’s Long Play:Spotify Link
