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Photo: Constantine Spence

Alt-pop princess Holly Humberstone has returned with two new introspective tracks from her forthcoming, highly-anticipated debut album, Paint My Bedroom Black, officially arriving on October 13. “Antichrist” and “Room Service” depict two vastly different experiences with love, from identifying toxicity within yourself to finding solace in the simplest of moments.

On theme with the rest of her brutally honest discography, Humberstone assesses dark moments in “Antichrist”—and her own hand in the destruction. The track immediately captures attention with a gorgeous auto-tuned intro, a boldly self-aware declaration of guilt. The song’s production is dynamic and always enthralling, taking turns and arriving back at an auto-tuned outro, a full-circle moment that enhances her internal rumination.

Humberstone’s lyricism is as sharp as ever as she poetically muses over a tantalizingly soft, industrial beat. She takes on the full burden of a crumbling relationship, singing, “So come on give me hell, cause heaven knows I deserve it.” This self-punishment is merciless, which begs the question posed throughout the choruses, “Am I the antichrist?” A true demon most likely would not be willing or able to acknowledge their own guilt, leaving listeners with the sinking feeling that Humberstone has manifested her internal turmoil as harm towards others.

After the heaviness explored in “Antichrist,” the paired track “Room Service” is a much-needed release. Over a quaint guitar strum, Humberstone sings, “I am burying the things that hurt you / I'm digging holes in the garden babe / I made a tomb to put them in, everything.” It’s a counteractive expression of love, making up for the wrongdoings committed in the previous track. On its own, “Room Service” is a simple ode to simple love. Humberstone romanticizes the mundane and puts emphasis on promises yet realized, like making future plans and unplugging from the daily stress of life.

In our first look at Paint My Bedroom Black, Humberstone brands herself as the anti-antichrist with two contrasting yet compatible tracks. “Antichrist” and “Room Service” set the scene, giving us two dark pop triumphs to sink our teeth into until October. While we wait, we can surely expect the upcoming album to take us on a journey of honest self-reflection that does not sacrifice an appreciation for the little things in life.

Listen to "Antichrist" and "Room Service" below: