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“Exit Path” by Lab Rat delivers a gritty anthem of escapism from a toxic cycle

Lab Rat

The debut UK single “Exit Path” by Lab Rat presents a visceral gut-punch of emotion. It is a compelling fusion of alt-rock framed within a grunge rap soundscape with unfiltered storytelling prowess, drawing from the dark undercurrents of his childhood trauma. Dylan James, the British-born artist behind Lab Rat, now based in Australia, channels his deeply embedded pain into a cathartic release through music. The track chronicles the artist’s vulnerable recount of his life, depicting the suffocating weight of an adulthood-seeking escape route from a past that relentlessly haunts him. Through its introspective lyricism, steeped in trauma, addiction, and the endless quest for solace, Lab Rat walks listeners through the intricate corridors of mental health battles, brutally honest and deep relatability.

Dylan James’ candid approach is evident from the onset of the first verse, which places listeners squarely in James’ shoes as he openly confronts his profoundly personal and universally tragic demons with searing honesty. The song’s narrative in its second verse focuses on a former partner, underscoring the shared semblance of their harrowing reality. Both verses culminate in a chorus that speaks to a coping mechanism all too familiar: turning to drugs to quell the resounding echoes of suicidal thoughts and distressing old memories.

What’s striking about “Exit Path” is the juxtaposition of the haunting yet hypnotic chorus, reflecting the inevitable anthem for the cyclical nature of adversity and the fleeting moments of optimism amid relapse. Dylan’s gritty vocals, paired with darkly atmospheric instrumentals, give the track sharp rhythmic vibes and exude a polished façade of urgency that is impossible to ignore.

Beyond being a solely musical charm, “Exit Path” offers a profound testament to the resilience and endurance desiring solace for individuals grappling with destructive patterns. Lab Rat provides an unyielding portrayal of the human experience through this piece, extending solidarity to those trapped in their battles for inner peace.

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CLICK HERE TO STREAM Lab Rat’s Exit Path on Spotify.
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Artist Spotlight

GOODTWIN shares reflection with indie-pop single, “Soak It Up”

GOODTWIN

The indie-pop project GOODTWIN offers a subtly stirring new single, “Soak It Up,” that’s sort of like taking a deep breath after drowning out the world for so long. The track combines avant-garde jazz elements with their indie-pop sensibilities. “Soak It Up” is more of a quiet rallying cry than a rousing proclamation.

The song gently explores the push-pull of life between external pressures and inner peace, the feeling of being pulled in multiple directions while seeking a soft place to land. GOODTWIN’s leading force and vocalist, Gus Alexander, wrote the song in response to that insidious, yet understated, influence on modern life, and the need for validation, doing something useful with your time today, and, at the same time, being attractive enough to get what you need gutted from someone else.

“Soak It Up” offers an encounter with the concepts by attending to how it was made, with a focus on presence rather than performance and on significance over distraction. The balance between warmth and precision in the production is immaculate. The track, produced and engineered by Carly Bond and Germaine Dunes of Sound and Hearing at Altamira Sound, has a refined yet raw feel that doesn’t seem polished but rather suggests a human element, which suits its introspective tones.

Jack Doutt’s mastering adds another layer of depth to a soulfully rich composition, leaving enough space for each element to shine without overwhelming the others. The result is a cohesive, immersive sound that feels intentional throughout. For fans of indie-pop with a sprinkle of jazz, introspective verses, and emotionally driven production, the track is an exciting addition to GOODTWIN’s blossoming discography. It’s a piece of music that invites a slower tempo, that forces attentive listening, and, with it, an experience more fully lived.

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Artist Spotlight

G3 the Plug moves like a ghost on latest release “Danny Phantom”

G3 the plug

G3 the Plug goes darker with his new single, “Danny Phantom,” a moody slice of hip-hop whose chord, and melody-led chills make it feel less like a song and more like this state of mind you have after the witching hour. Emotionally understated and  raw, the track embodies that quiet intensity of moving through the city when everything is far away and everything seems blurred, half-seen.

Built on a minimal trap foundation, “Danny Phantom” excels in its simplicity. The production is intentionally loose, leaving room for the emotions to breathe rather than smother. It’s a beat that doesn’t beg for attention, it settles in, serving as an enveloping setting that mimics the song’s motifs of isolation, motion and presence. Every bit of sound seems deliberate, supporting the introspective mood rather than competing with it.

G3 the Plug doubles down on understatement. He chisels away rather than overexplain, allowing space to pass like streetlights out a car window. It has that drifting feeling, of being in a place while actually not being there at all, that gives the album its ghostly contours. The title seems right, G3 floats through the track like a ghost, invisible but powerfully present, in landscapes where silence is as telling as language.

The key to making “Danny Phantom” stand out is its emotional honesty. This isn’t a track intended for the spectacle, it’s meant for reflection. It’s a record that speaks to anyone familiar with the sensation of being alone in motion, tumbling toward some destination and hauling thoughts up from the depths after dark. Lying in the land between underground rap and atmospheric hip-hop, “Danny Phantom” makes clear G3 the Plug’s capacity to convey mood through music without forcing it. It’s a slow-burn record, one that uncovers itself with more listens, with the music lingering long after its final beat.

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