Soundtracking A24’s latest blockbuster ‘Babygirl,’ alternative pop icon and 2010s Internet princess Sky Ferreira reminds us of exactly who she is (and why she’s here to stay) on her exhilarating return single, “Leash.”
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Stream: “Leash” – Sky Ferreira
The world has not been kind to Sky Ferreira.
From a viral debut to a sophomore record put in 10 years of limbo and a rancourous long-term label feud, the pop star has been dealt her fair share of bad hands when it comes to music business, and fans have been far from silent. With the emergence of the #FreeSky movement amidst countless setbacks and violent exploitation at the hands of Capitol Records, Ferreira’s split from the label has been a long time coming; now that it’s finally here, the artist is proudly declaring her sovereignty, wearing freedom like a badge of honour, and she’s not mincing any words.
“Leash” sees Sky Ferreira at her most expressive and exalted, her signature of catchy pop melodies intersecting with dramatic rock flair as she proclaims her frustration, fervency, and freedom. Released ahead of A24’s premiere of the highly-anticipated erotic thriller Babygirl, the single’s electric sound and provocative energy leaves goosebumps trailing on skin and chills running down spines.
Enraptured by a bitter moon
Drain all the light, straight from the wound
I bit my tongue and bled the truth
As I live and breathe, I’m dead to you
From the moment the first note reverberates, “Leash” has you captivated and mesmerized; a distorted electric guitar opens the song as brooding synths crescendo to set the scene for Ferreira’s declaration of restriction and redemption. Her voice is hushed yet commanding, juxtaposing the pain of confinement and the gravity of liberation. Singing about her losses and wounds by the utter disregard for her musicianship and personhood, Ferreira blazons her suffering and resentment.
You’re my heart in human form
Always crawl and kiss the ground
Surrender to the master
In the end, nothing matters
Blood was on the wall
We always knew I’d let you down
Surrender to the master
In the end, nothing matters
The track reaches its climax in the cinematic chorus as percussions build and echo over Ferreira’s cathartic roars. Decrying her autonomy for the sake of a master, readily accepting the futility of it all, “Leash” climbs to a fever pitch as the lyrics become increasingly nihilistic, mirroring the singer’s former reality as a victim of her circumstances.
“It feels liberating, but I’m honestly still angry about the situation,” Ferreira says on parting ways with Capitol in an interview with Vogue. “It felt like their way of trying to break my spirit one last time. It’s kinda like when someone gets out of prison and they don’t know what to do with themselves.”
Hid inside a mirrored room
Subterranean haze, I always stumble through
Love is numbered and obsolete
Made some promises I don’t intend to keep
Engraved onto your memory
Why does leaving you mean leaving me?
The singer grows breathier and more defiant as “Leash” progresses, remaining melodically consistent while using subtle vocal inflections to escalate sonic drama and reinforce internal conflicts; the song tells a story in and of itself. Ferreira is hopeless, trapped, and has lost herself in the Subterranean haze, but by questioning the power imbalance in the relationship, she is able to find her sense of identity — even though it doesn’t entirely absolve her of the grief and dread she’s grown accustomed to.
I see it
I saw right through the center of my hands,
all the blood runs through
I see you, I know the truth
I can’t believe I saw you
Chains are heavy, pull me close to you
Every scrape leads me back to you
All the hate is a gift that grew
I saw, I saw right through
Chains are heavy, pull me close to you
Twinkling synths and slow percussions create an atmospheric quality as “Leash’s” bridge sees Sky Ferreira reclaiming her power in an attempt to break free from metaphorical chains. Distorted vocals largely obscure the lyrics as she croons her truth, relaying a sense of awakening, autonomy, and ultimately, acceptance.
Leashed up and lucid
As you fall apart on me
Spray of stars and bruises
Evaporated mercury
Sense it in the dark
I let you wear me like a scar
I’ll run through everything that you are
I tore apart this veil of shame
I fought so hard, just to be erased
Wanna be caught
Go down in flames
I know I’ll never get my way
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Sky Ferreira’s voice is as powerful as ever, declaring her lucidity and strength in spite of being leashed up. With raw power and unyielding passion, she sheds her shame and remains steadfast in her beliefs and plight, even if it means she’ll “go down in flames.”
“Leash” ends with Ferreira lyrically expressing the futility of the situation, but the jangling guitars and pounding drums say otherwise; relentless and undaunted, the singer offers an astonishingly complex and beautifully intense track to mark her newfound independence and triumphant return to music.
It’s no surprise why Sky Ferreira remains one of alt-pop’s most revered and beloved, and Babygirl is just the beginning.
“Leash” proves a compelling standout in the pop star’s discography, and as she continues to make waves as an independent artist, we can expect even bigger, bolder, and better to come.
With firm promises to deliver her decade-in-the-making sophomore project Masochism this year, there’s truly no better time to be a Sky Ferreira fan than now.
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Stream: “Leash” – Sky Ferreira
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© Morgan Maher
© Morgan Maher
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