There is a particular kind of ache that comes with realizing a person you trusted was never really who they claimed to be, and an even sharper sting when you catch sight of the bitter, defensive version of yourself that betrayal leaves behind. On her single "Monster", alternative rock artist Scarlet Joy refuses to sand down those ugly edges. Clocking in at just under four minutes, the track, released at the end of last month, trades tidy pop platitudes for something far thornier and more lived-in.
Written and produced by Joy herself, "Monster" carries the unmistakable DNA of a bedroom demo that grew teeth in the studio. Joy tracked her vocals and guitars at home alongside Greg Smith on bass before taking the skeleton of the song to Superfly Studios, where drummer Drew Moore injected the arrangement with heavy, live-wire momentum. That hybrid approach pays off immediately. The verses simmer with a restless, claustrophobic tension, capturing the exhaustion of living in perpetual "fight or flight" while sifting through memories you would rather forget.
When the chorus finally hits, it lands like a door slamming shut. Over crunchy, muscular alt-rock instrumentation, Joy delivers the song’s central thesis with a mix of exhaustion and quiet fury. It is a sharp bit of songwriting that shifts the focus away from simple heartbreak toward the collateral damage of emotional whiplash. By the time the bridge dissolves into a hypnotic, rhythmic chant, the track feels less like a pity party and more like an exorcism.
Paired with a fragmented, unsettling visual collaboration with artist Daz Disley, "Monster" captures an artist willing to sit with discomfort rather than dress it up. It is gritty, self-assured alt-rock that proves looking closely at our darkest impulses can sometimes be the cleanest way through them.
"Monster", if you will excuse the pun, is an absolute joy. The artwork itself and the accompanying video (above), are captivating visuals that keenly reflect the mantra of the music. Scarlet Joy is a hugely talented songwriter and creator of themes. A true artist, we are keen to find out how her career progresses. Highly recommended.
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