Born out of singer-songwriter Martha Barr’s childhood bedroom in Edinburgh, musical project Indoor Foxes has been carving out its own unique space in the Scottish music scene over the past few years. Specialising in a captivating combination of predominantly pop and grunge, the release of her new EP, Mould, offers a marked evolution in her musical journey. The relatable lyricism and addictive pop melodies of her previous releases, such as in Plant Pot Song or Manic, are expanded upon in exciting new ways.
The first of the 4-song run is the title track, Mould. As an opener, it eases you into the experience of the EP, with an over 6-minute run-time. Don’t let that fool you; that doesn’t mean it lacks depth – anything but, in fact. It’s a deeply emotional exploration of the difficult intersection between a toxic relationship, depression, and alcohol, using the metaphor of a disseminating mould to dive deep from a safe emotional distance. With a catchy pop melody to gently guide you through the topics, it features sharp lyrics such as:
“Mould knows the secrets / I keep to myself / Mould knows my name / It knows why I drink and it knows what I think everyday / Mould understands me / It knows what I need / And Mould hates you back / It knows you don’t love me / And it knows it’s the best I’ve ever had”
A standout moment in the song is Barr gasping amidst singing – this moment really highlights the depth of struggle faced when suffering with all of these individual issues together. Overall, Mould is a great introduction to the EP and isn’t one to skip.
Wrist break, jerk off has a more upbeat, summery feel compared to the dark depths of the previous track. Despite this addictive feeling it offers, the themes of the song are anything but how it sounds. With pop drumbeats and a catchy melody, it explores depression and the impact of SSRIs on sex; this track is undoubtedly a standout in Barr’s discography. Ending with desperate repetition of “Get me off,” it really does successfully convey the sexual struggles of both parties while dealing with depression.
Superfan opens with a deep inhale followed by the smooth introduction of a slow guitar melody that threads the song together. The themes of this song are written in a deeply relatable, creating a personal, addictive charm. Delving deep into the topic of obsession, a lot of the lyrics could be read in multifaceted ways and feel especially resonant with Gen Z, such as:
“Reread your message / To remind myself / We’ll only be friends / But now you’re trapped in my head”
In the latter half, there are times when the intense crashes really overpower the vocals in the mix, although this is only at a few moments and doesn’t detract from the rest of the track.
The EP closes with Feet On The Dash, which is true, quintessential indie-rock, and if you’re a fan of the genre and supporting Scottish talent, this is a must-listen. This song is another angle of the rainbow of emotions that coincide with a difficult relationship, this time through the visceral metaphor of a car crash; imagery that is wildly appropriate for the feeling of a failed relationship. It delivers on this metaphor well, with the luscious vocals in the chorus especially scratching a pop-doused itch.
Overall, this is an EP that you can truly identify with, and the catchiness makes it a strong addition to the on-repeat playlist. Be sure to catch it live at Sneaky Pete’s on 8th December, and give them a follow on Instagram and TikTok.
Listen to Mould below: