Indie artist Plant Dad, a.k.a. Ralph Bernabe, is a Baltimore-based singer-songwriter who takes a raw and emotional turn in his latest collaborative single “broke conduits” with UK folk singer-songwriter Jacob Cook. Best known for his upbeat, danceable indie-pop, Plant Dad changes gears for this haunting folk ballad and delivers a vulnerable and melancholic reflection on living with clinical depression.
It’s interesting to consider how “broke conduits” might boast a more textured acoustic arrangement compared to most Plant Dad tracks, but the exuberance is boiled away to something far deeper and reflective. The soothing vulnerability in his vocals shines through, floating delicately atop arpeggiated guitar lines that pulse like a steady heartbeat, as the track sits firmly within introspective quiet emotional intimacy. It results in the vocals and guitars intermingling with each other to create a natural ebb and flow, not very different from an exhausting anxiety-and-self-doubt roller coaster guided by pressure from everyday life.
This is a sonic departure for Plant Dad, whose music usually leans toward upbeat indie-pop sentiments. Here, he ventures into the unknown with bowed strings and spacious, atmospheric soundscapes reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers, Elliott Smith, and Bright Eyes. There is something delicate yet ghostly about the track that can get deeply personal and, simultaneously, universally relatable to listeners who might have felt similar struggles.
“broke conduits” is to date the most deeply personal offering from Plant Dad. As he puts it, “This song feels like an anthem of what it’s like to be me,” a striking admission that resonates deep in a time when awareness of mental health is more critical than ever. This song keeps the themes of apathy and emotional numbness achingly relatable with the weight of depression carried, but an undertone of hope catches in that melody and reminds us that at any moment, solace is possible.
Wanting more: fans of Phoebe Bridgers, Christian Lee Hutson, and Conor Oberst—just a few names—should get ready for this immensely. “broke conduits” balances introspection with expansive soundscapes out of this world. Now that this single is live across all platforms, let’s get this essential listening onto the ears of those who love to get punched in the gut but still show hopeful rays through the melancholy.
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You can listen to ‘broke conduits’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.