Skullcrusher releases new single ‘Dragon’
The hazy track explores feelings of dissociation.
Photo: Adam Alonzo
New York-based indie artist Skullcrucher, aka Helen Ballentine, has just released Dragon, the latest single from her upcoming sophomore album, And Your Song Is Like A Circle. The hazy new track sees Ballentine delve into the weight of living one faces when emerging from a dissociative spell.
The song itself feels like an out-of-body experience or fever dream of sorts. With its eerie piano melody and harsh percussion, the track possesses a haunting quality. We transition to brighter tones in the chorus, which are beautifully complemented by Ballentine’s feather-light vocals. The instrumentation evokes the feeling of finally coming up for air and yet the lyrics offer a stark contrast. “The weight is heavy / And I fall to my knees”, Ballentine croons, demonstrating that, while the grounding she faces is necessary, it is also painful. There’s a rawness to the song that I think many will resonate with.
Overall, Dragon is a striking track which excellently leverages its arrangement to put you into the very headspace of its writer. The dreamlike quality of the instrumentation paired with the heavy lyricism creates a compelling contrast.
And Your Song Is Like A Circle is out October 17th via Dirty Hit.