photo / Alejandra Villalba García
How many times have you complained about what you lack without realizing someone else dreams of having what you already have? It’s not about ignoring pain or frustration but about remembering that what we have now was once what we wanted most. That’s the heart of “The Bluff,” the second single from Harmless’ upcoming album “By Them, By You, By Me.”
“The Bluff” is the opposite of what its title suggests—not because it’s confrontational, but because it invites us to reevaluate how we often behave as human beings. The track is filled with reverb-soaked guitars, subtle percussion, and a vocal delivery that carries a calm sense of urgency.
This introspective indie song balances tension and tenderness, caught between the constant desire for more and the need to pause and appreciate what we’ve already accomplished. The song doesn’t try to offer answers or tell us how to act, but it does open the door to an honest reflection about success and the trap of never feeling like it’s enough.
Inspired by a hike with a more successful musician friend, Nacho Cano—the mind behind Harmless—admits he felt frustrated and jealous while listening to his friend complain. But somewhere in the middle of the conversation, something clicked: “Oh, fuck! That’s me for someone else.”
He adds, “Upon realization, I asked my friend, ‘When’s it gonna be enough? Huh?’ ‘Yeah, man, when is it enough, when are we done?’ We talked, and I mentioned how sad it is that we have to constantly want more without giving any thought to what we have and love. This is a side of this career that I feel not many see. We play the bluff while we play the show.”
The video for the track was filmed in Cano’s birthplace of Mexico City this past spring and was filmed by award-winning director Alejandra Villalba García.
The video, directed by award-winning director Alejandra Villalba García, was filmed in Mexico City and captures the song’s vulnerability and intimacy without overemphasizing it. A contemplative visual language complements the narrative without stealing the spotlight.
“By Them, By You, By Me” is a deeply personal project in which Cano confronts the tension between creative authenticity and a system that measures art in numbers. With the support of Santiago and Patricio Mijares, as well as Francisco Sánchez de la Vega, the album marks a creative rebirth for Harmless.
To celebrate the release of “By Them, By You, By Me,” Harmless will hit the road this fall on his headlining “Dying to Work Tour,” kicking off October 17th in Santa Ana, CA. The run includes stops in major cities like Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, and Los Angeles, with support from yungatita on all dates.
This album adds to the impressive catalog Nacho Cano has built—one that began in 2012 with his debut, “I’m Sure” (then as Twin Cabins). His breakout hit “Swing Lynn” went viral on TikTok, earning over 328 million Spotify streams and Gold certification in the U.S., while his 2024 debut album “Springs Eternal” earned praise from outlets like Flood Magazine, Paste, The Big Takeover, and Stereogum. Besides all that, Cano still wonders, when is it enough?
CONNECT WITH HARMLESS