Nico Collins and Chelsea Collins, siblings and the duo behind the emerging pop act Nico & Chelsea, have garnered attention with their new single, “Weapons In My Pocket.” The song, which has gained popularity on social media platforms like TikTok, addresses contemporary societal issues, particularly focusing on the normalization of weapons. The track blends Americana-pop and modern country elements, delivering a message about the global and individual impacts of weaponization, while maintaining an element of fun and their well-loved pop music influence.
“Weapons In My Pocket” , originally released earlier this year, alongside a music video that left fans and viewers stunned. The western video showed a strong cowboy influence, and was filmed in a desert in California with Nico Collins and Chelsea Collins each playing opposing characters. The visual element of the music video played a strong role in getting across their message, opening with Nico and Chelsea raising their prop guns on one another.
The “Weapons In My Pocket” music video explores themes related to leadership, violence, and the use of weapons. It critiques the actions of world powers that continue to amass weapons rather than work toward global peace. The song also reflects on how casual weaponization has become widespread in everyday society, highlighting the growing concern over this trend. To close out the scene, the music video ends with the same scene from the opening, but in reverse, with Nico and Chelsea choosing to both drop their weapons. This imagery serves as a reminder of the songs powerful meaning, easy to forget among the fast paced and fun pop nature of the song itself. Throughout the video, Nico and Chelsea are accompanied by dancers, doing country line dancers around the western town. These lighthearted dances juxtapose the deeper meaning of the song.
Musically, the song is notable for combining old-school country sounds with pop elements, delivering its message through accessible, upbeat rhythms. This juxtaposition of lively music and serious subject matter sets the track apart, as it invites listeners to enjoy the sound while reflecting on its deeper themes.
Recently, alongside the release of the acoustic version of “Weapons In My Pocket”, the original song has found a new widespread audience on TikTok, with hundreds of organic videos being created with the original audio. As the song continues to grow, some users have called upon it as an anthem for this year’s hectic and divisive election season, putting the music behind political posts and election commentary alike.
Nico Collins and Chelsea Collins have both pursued successful solo careers before forming their current musical project. Chelsea was signed to notorious Los Angeles based music label HITCO by L.A. Reid in 2020, working with artists like Swae Lee and 24KGoldn. Nico Collins, meanwhile, built his career independently, accumulating over 250 million streams with viral hits such as “Hate Me” and “Alone.” He garnered his audience largely from “Rooftop Sessions”, a series on YouTube where he and his sister will perform songs live, without backtracks, for a raw and authentic look into their music style.
After facing challenges, including burnout and the end of previous contracts, the siblings decided to collaborate as Nico & Chelsea. As a duo, their music focuses on broader societal issues, a shift from their earlier solo work, which centered more on personal experiences. “Weapons In My Pocket” exemplifies this change in focus, addressing complex societal concerns.
As Nico & Chelsea continue to develop their music and work on their debut album, “Weapons In My Pocket” serves as a preview of their socially conscious and emotionally resonant approach. The song highlights their ability to create music that is both engaging and thought-provoking, marking them as a noteworthy presence in the pop music scene.