“Sorry about my head.”
If you’ve struggled with the many tentacles of depression and its ability to pull you under and away from family and friends—from your entire world—you’ll recognize that sentiment. It’s the opening line of “ First Aid ,” the lead song from Gus Dapperton ’s upcoming album. Over spare acoustic guitar, miked so close that it sounds nestled in your ear, Gus delivers the line, and if you’ve followed the 23-year-old’s career from the bright and charming early singles and EPs to 2018’s full-length album Where Polly People Go to Read , you’ll recognize that the singer-songwriter-producer has entered new territory here.
“In the past, I've written my songs from a place of love and heartbreak. This album is about internal pain and suffering,” he says. There it is, put as plainly as possible. “First Aid” builds in volume and complexity— Gus’ voice is joined by the voice of his sister Amadelle ; there’s live percussion, the cymbals ringing—until it climaxes with the hoarsely yelled repetition of the titular lyric.
“First Aid,”out today, is the initial taste of Dapperton’s evolution into a masterful songwriter, which will further reveal itself throughout this year. The album explores human pain and suffering, but it’s equally about healing and redemption. This song tackles the internal pain a person can experience in isolation but also hints at appreciating the ones you love. “I would slit his wrists and reminisce it /if it wasn't for my sis /she's got heart the size of I-95 /I drive.”
