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Photo: Brandon Dudley

Deb Never’s “Momentary Sweetheart” is the rage room of breakup anthems. While the verses practice restraint with their acoustic arrangement, the choruses are a cathartic rush of emotion. Distorted guitars wail over a driving drum beat and white noise blurs the edges of the track, filling every inch of the soundscape with grungy static.

Although Deb Never curates her instrumental palette cleverly, saving the gritty guitars and filtered kick for the height of the tension, the moments where the noise recedes are just as emotive. As the chorus of “Momentary Sweetheart” roars toward its end, the cacophony halts to let her reflect unescorted, “Don’t you hate when I go?”

The visuals perfectly reflect Deb Never’s state of mind, offering listeners glimpses of her frustration in fragmented glitches. We’re able to witness the disorienting tidal wave of emotion that inspired “Momentary Sweetheart” in the shifting colors. In a way, the VHS-style grain obscuring the fine detail of the visuals contributes to the loneliness of the track, isolating Deb Never’s pain to a scene on a screen. We’re flies on the wall of her hurt, aching along with her but unable to change a thing.

Deb Never is a lawless pioneer in the pop scene, creating emotion-driven music with an unbreakable backbone. “Momentary Sweetheart” is an electrifying example of her artistic fortitude. The alt-pop rebel will be joining keshi on his spring tour. Be there.

Watch the "momentary sweetheart" video below: