WARNING: Do NOT listen to this song after eating. Trust me. GNAT’s new song “Fill” describes the empty feeling that persists after leaving an ex that feels intimate and cannibalistic. The song begins with a haunting guitar and leads in with soft backing vocals that feel like GNAT’s whispering to you their dark secrets, and for good reason. Confessions like “I threw up in his mouth last night and I’ve been choking on every single bite” keep your stomach churning, but like any good horror story, force you to keep one eye open to see what happens next. The song feels undeniably influenced by Phoebe Bridgers and her soft acoustic style. But if Phoebe Bridgers is blue skies and green grass, then GNAT is the dirt that lies underneath; unafraid to get muddy in their feelings (or bloody in their cravings).
But beneath the blood-curdling lyrics is a story of emptiness and longing. GNAT describes the difficulty of leaving somebody and trying to move on in lyrics like, “I found another but his lips weren’t right/I guess I’ll have to try again” and “I still feel you in your absence.” But in the end, they ultimately know that, despite their hunger, they’ve had their fill. GNAT’s ability to write pop melodies is on display throughout, but what makes them stand out amongst their acoustic contemporaries is their strong-willed pen, which shows no fear and leaves the floor a bloody mess. GNAT’s first official solo record is set to be released this Spring.
- Bentley Bradford
