It feels like See Emily Play is breathing new life into the alt-country scene. If it’s not the quirkily-named single ‘Yoko Ono was Seven Years Older than John’, then it’s the unconventional musicality of ‘What the Hell is BDD’. I say this because the subject of mental health is so often accompanied by reflective or balladeering tones. Yet here, her new single is punctuated with the rapid and rocky sounds of contemporary bluegrass. What results is a refreshing and fascinating take on the subject of body image. More specifically, it chronicles her experience with body dysmorphic disorder, from “a comment overheard” to “approximately thirty-six fucking months since I felt like me”. The chaotic rhythm of the song is at once delightful and unnerving, as Emily plays with expectations to arrive at a sincere truth. She once again does so via an unexpected path. One that, despite the entertainment, doesn’t lose the more serious message beneath.
‘What the Hell is BDD’ will be released on November 1st 2024, when it can be heard on most streaming platforms, including Spotify.
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