Holly Humberstone ‘s musical journey has been a captivating one, characterized by a distinct feeling that threads her dark, brooding songs together. Since her debut single “Deep End” in January 2020, this Grantham-born artist has masterfully crafted candid and often anguished narratives of her personal life. These tales range from the challenges of navigating a relationship (“Falling Asleep At The Wheel“) to the realities of London flatshares (“The Walls Are Way Too Thin“).
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Humberstone’s music has been appropriately accompanied by artwork drenched in shades of red, black, and purple, evoking the raw emotions at the core of her work. In her own words, “My favorite artists create work that magics up an entirely new universe,” and she aspires to do the same with her album and live performances.
While Humberstone’s debut album bears the on-brand title Paint My Bedroom Black, it signals a surprisingly optimistic outlook. In the track, she declares, “Now I’m pulling out of your driveway / Finally I’m living, not surviving,” against a backdrop of liberating guitar riffs. However, it’s a rebirth marked by imperfections, where she grapples with her dual identity – the extrovert and the introvert, the Gen Z pop star, and the chronic doom-scroller who can’t seem to text her friends back.
This internal conflict takes center stage on tracks like the distorted “Antichrist,” where Humberstone bluntly questions herself: “Am I the Antichrist? / How do I sleep at night?” On the lush, indie-pop leaning “Lauren,” she apologizes to a friend for her absence. Meanwhile, the acoustic and stripped-down “Room Service” reflects her yearning for someone to alleviate the loneliness of life on the road.
The confessional “Into Your Room” reveals Humberstone’s admission of her relationship flaws while giving herself permission to fall hard. She unapologetically expresses, “Without you, my soul is eternally doomed / You’re the center of the universe; my sorry ass revolves around you,” over plump synths. These cinematic vignettes form the album’s most intoxicating moments, whether it’s the intoxicating journey of falling in love in the woozy slow dance “Kissing In Swimming Pools” or the emotional connection between two lovers gazing at the same sky in the D4vd collaboration “Superbloodmoon.”
In addition to her piercing lyrics, Humberstone’s debut album is enriched by her willingness to step out of her sonic comfort zone. Surprises unfold on tracks like the layered, Bon Iver-esque “Baby Blues” and the brilliant “Flatlining,” which momentarily transforms into a dynamic electronic anthem. Paint My Bedroom Black encapsulates Humberstone’s quest to make sense of her turbulent world and do right by her loved ones, while signaling to listeners that her music is poised to venture into uncharted territory.
As Humberstone builds emotional depth and musical intricacy into her debut, it becomes evident that she is not merely occupying space but inviting listeners to join her as she constructs new walls, defining her unique artistic realm.
This debut album marks the beginning of an exciting journey for Holly Humberstone, paving the way for a promising and uncategorized future in music. Her emotional depth and sonic creativity hint at a bright and unpredictable trajectory that keeps listeners engaged and eager for what’s next. Holly Humberstone’s Paint My Bedroom Black serves as a canvas for her musical evolution, a journey that promises to be as vivid and dynamic as her exceptional debut.