As a whole, we accumulate a powerful collection of volatile memories and experiences. For better or worse, they shape us into who we are. Alt-rock artist Pisgah returns with her latest single, “Bend to Break,” a cinematic experience about the struggle to move on in life. Ultimately, singer-songwriter Brittney Jenkins proposes that vulnerability can be a strength rather than a weakness.
On the whole, there’s a gradual, precipitous build-up in constructing the soundscape of “Bend to Break.” During much of the first half, everything feels contained due to its cascading chords and tumbling drums. Not to mention, Jenkins’ haunting, willowy vocals that echo along. Before long, there’s a subtle burst of energy, kicking off a muted ethereal atmosphere surrounding the first chorus as well as before its final exit.
“Bend to Break” sets the stage with its main character travelling along a route through a remote wilderness. Scenic imagery aside, it’s about sinking into stoicism. Before long, it’s about what you can’t let go, no matter how many miles you rack up. All in all, “Bend to Break” leans into the narrative of an aimless traveler journeying to forget what brought them there in the first place.
All the while, there’s a simple piece of advice lodged within this song: “You have to bend, so you can break.” Basically, it’s asking to allow yourself permission to experience your feelings. Or, to put it another way, there’s no use living with a teflon heart. In short, it’s about not bottling up your emotions and allowing yourself to process them, instead.
If we sever our emotional ties, we become no more than drones. “Bend to Break” asks to no longer drift through life in such an emotionally numb state. All that Pisgah asks is to let your guard down.
Written by Travis Boyer
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