‘Head Game’ is a modern day ballad about the tricks your mind can play and how to trust in the wisdom of your body. The song opens with woozy synths and glistening keys as vocalist, Justina Shandler, sings about getting older and the new anxieties that have come with it, [“The older I get the more I’m in debt/When I have kids, I don’t wanna tell ‘em that”]. When discussing ‘Head Game’ Shandler went into detail about how her mental health affected the songwriting process. “We began writing lyrics and melody for ‘Head Game’ by bluntly calling out our real and recent struggle with anxiety and depression while detailing some coping mechanisms we’ve used to make it through.”

The songwriting of ‘Head Game’ slowly builds in intensity before exploding on the chorus where the band reigns in biting guitars and a blistering drum beat, while Shandler recites a mantra that Lane had used to talk himself down from panic attacks. “When I pass out my body takes over/When I pass out my body takes over/Remember now it’s all just a head game”

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‘Fences’ is an alt-rock anthem about setting boundaries, and not feeling guilty about choosing to prioritize one’s self. When Justina sings “every day’s a battle for the ones who want my time..my energy is getting expensive” she’s acknowledging that there are people in her life who she feels she owes her time, but that there is a limit to her “energy”. While this is by no means a rare problem to have, LADY SLOTH make it feel unique by incorporating personal experiences and anecdotes into their lyrics.

“The chorus straddles the line of desperation and self empowerment. “I hope you don’t find it offensive, I’m over here building my fences,” as we learn to navigate our own limits and risk disappointing others to avoid disappointing ourselves,” say the duo.

LADY SLOTH used confessional lyrics to great effect on their previous release, ‘Sugarloaf Mountain Road’, and the duo have said before that they were inspired by indie contemporaries Phoebe Bridgers and Dawes, both of whom are known for their storytelling. The band goes deeper into their writing process below.

“At this point in our writing process, we were seeing themes related to mental health. “Fences” is an extension of that, dipping into our history and struggle with setting healthy boundaries. We started by cataloging instances in which we didn’t set clear boundaries in our lives and how it affected us. Setting boundaries is a very important subject matter as we strive to better protect our energy. The more openly we speak about this issue, the more we find others who relate.”

Musically ‘Fences’ sees the band digging back into the alt-rock playbook with wailing guitars and a syncopated drum beat. The song ramps up in intensity before exploding into a blissfully zealous chorus, where Justina shouts “I hope you don’t find it offensive, I’m over here building my fences”. The upbeat tune is infectious and is practically begging to be played in front of a live crowd.

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