Brighton newcomer Girl Apocrypha unveils 'Dealer', a blistering debut single released on the 4th February that marks the arrival of a bold new voice blurring the lines between alt-rock and pop.
The new track is a striking first statement from an artist already familiar with Brighton's circuit. Previously the lead songwriter for local band Faeser, Emia has packed out shows and supported the likes of Cassyette at Concorde 2 and Dear Tash at The Social in London. After years on guitar and bass duties in grunge outfits, she now steps forward solo with a sound that's both self-aware and theatrically charged.
Produced by Jag Jago (The Maccabees, Cassyette, Jamie T), 'Dealer' opens with a dark, stabbing synth before unfurling into reverb-soaked guitars and Emia's distinctive half-spoken, half-sung delivery. As the chorus hits, distortion builds beneath evocative vocals, carving out territory between shoegaze and grunge-pop. Drawing from the shadowy intensity of Interpol, Placebo and Nine Inch Nails alongside the pop sensibilities of Lady Gaga, Grimes and The Dare, the track exists in the tension between grit and gloss.
Written at a particularly low point, the song captures an unflinching moment of self-examination. "Dealer describes the out-of-body experience you have when you're suddenly able to see all your reckless, destructive behaviours from an outsider's perspective," Emia explains. "It's really a diss track about myself. Sometimes you can find yourself at a crossroads where you have to choose between getting better or sinking deeper down, and I like to think of Dealer as that final patch of darkness right before you find the will to swim to the surface."
Confessional and cutting, oscillating between sharp self-critique and surreal observation, 'Dealer' introduces an artist unafraid to confront her demons while crafting something sonically ambitious from the wreckage.
Stream the single below
