Oslo-based artist Hellebaby explores the lingering uncertainty of life’s missed opportunities on her new single ‘Copenhagen’, released via Oh So Quiet. The solo project of Norwegian musician Helle Larsen, ‘Copenhagen’ follows her debut single ‘Replica Gun’ and examines the fear of trying something new, alongside the nagging suspicion that everyone else is living a more exciting life. The Danish capital becomes a symbol of all those experiences that might have been, rather than simply a destination left unvisited.
Musically, ‘Copenhagen’ pairs its introspective subject matter with spacious, ethereal indie pop. A steady, almost mechanical drumbeat provides the foundation, while understated bass and unusual, sliding guitar-like flourishes lend the arrangement a dreamy quality reminiscent of Mazzy Star, with touches of Pixies’ alternative rock textures. Larsen’s sweet, vulnerable vocals have a slightly conversational intimacy, allowing the song’s uncertainty to come through without unnecessary drama. The latter half becomes particularly atmospheric, opening into a largely instrumental passage punctuated by distant, echoing wordless vocals.
There’s something quietly affecting about the way ‘Copenhagen’ captures the ordinary experience of wondering what might have been. Rather than offering easy answers, Hellebaby allows those thoughts to drift through an understated, beautifully atmospheric piece of indie pop.
