We Speak Music
Deron Daum Unveils New Single “Animals (Night 2: Vinnie)” from Concept Album Who Is Reptyle Brainz?
A dark and gripping character-driven track explores addiction, manipulation, and self-destruction through the eyes of a reluctant witness.
– Singer-songwriter and storyteller Deron Daum continues to expand the mysterious and immersive world of his concept album Who Is Reptyle Brainz? with the release of his 6th single, “Animals (Night 2: Vinnie)” . Blending alternative rock with a subtle hip-hop influence reminiscent of Twenty One Pilots, the track introduces listeners to two new characters whose lives become entangled in the destructive orbit of a troubled friend.
“Animals” marks the debut of Vinnie O’Brien and Tom Tanner, longtime companions of recurring character Richard Greaves. As Richard wrestles with mounting anxiety, he turns to alcohol and drugs in search of relief, drawing Vinnie and Tom deeper into his increasingly reckless lifestyle. Told from Vinnie’s perspective, the song captures the painful realization that Richard’s behavior is becoming predatory, forcing him to confront uncomfortable truths about loyalty, friendship, and personal responsibility.
Driven by rhythmic verses, atmospheric production, and emotionally charged storytelling, “Animals” occupies a unique space between alternative rock and modern hip-hop. The track’s infectious energy contrasts sharply with its unsettling narrative, creating a compelling listening experience that mirrors the chaos unfolding within its characters’ lives.
“Animals” serves as another chapter in the unfolding story of Who Is Reptyle Brainz?, an ambitious album that blends music and narrative to explore complex human behavior, psychological struggles, and the consequences of destructive choices. Through vivid characters and interconnected storylines, Deron Daum invites listeners into a world where personal demons often wear familiar faces.
The song’s title reflects the primal instincts and unchecked impulses that emerge as Richard’s addiction intensifies, while Vinnie’s growing awareness provides the emotional core of the track. As the story unfolds, listeners are left questioning where the line exists between compassion and enabling, and how far friendship can be stretched before it breaks.
With “Animals,” Deron Daum delivers a powerful and thought-provoking addition to Who Is Reptyle Brainz?, further establishing his ability to merge cinematic storytelling with contemporary musical influences. Deron is releasing a new single every 2 weeks.
About Deron Daum
Deron Daum is a songwriter and recording artist known for creating immersive musical narratives that blend compelling storytelling with modern rock and alternative influences. His album Who Is Reptyle Brainz? presents a richly woven cast of characters and interconnected stories, exploring the darker corners of human nature while challenging listeners to examine the motivations behind the choices people make.
We Speak Music
Phoebe June Traces Love, Distance and Heartbreak on New EP ‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’
For Phoebe June, some stories are easier to tell through music.
Her new EP, ‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’, is an intimate collection that traces the emotional journey of a relationship from the exhilaration of falling in love to distance, uncertainty, heartbreak and, ultimately, learning to let go.
Inspired by artists including Gracie Abrams, Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, Phoebe June combines diary-like lyricism with melancholic ballads, subtle uptempo moments and an understated, emotionally honest production style.
At the centre of the project is ‘Thursday’, a bittersweet track about loving someone from a distance and holding onto the hope that the connection might survive.
Written after Phoebe left a country that held deep personal meaning, and left someone she cared about behind, the song looks back at the relationship from its beginning. Even its title is personal: the two first met on a Thursday.
The song captures the complicated feeling of walking away from something meaningful without believing that it necessarily has to be over. It’s about distance, memory and the possibility of finding your way back to someone, while recognising that hope only works when it goes both ways.
Across six tracks, the EP develops that story in sequence.
‘Everything You Are’ opens the project with the warmth of new love, while ‘Dead Sea’ explores the security of finding someone who helps you stay afloat through difficult times. As the story progresses, ‘Thursday’ introduces separation before ‘Getaway Car’ moves into the aftermath; unanswered questions, lingering attachment and the realisation that someone can profoundly affect your life while still being unhealthy for you.
‘One Day’ leaves the door open to the possibility of a future reunion, balancing hope with the understanding that some relationships may only exist in memory.
The EP closes with ‘Ophelia’, its emotional breaking point. Inspired in part by Friedrich Heyser’s painting of the same name, the track confronts the pain of feeling manipulated and unappreciated after giving everything to someone else.
The result is a project that deliberately moves from light to dark. Phoebe June considered not only the narrative but the emotional progression when sequencing the EP, allowing the brightness of its opening to gradually give way to the heartbreak of its closing moments.
Even the title reflects that feeling.
‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’ takes its name from a flower, with the image of a gate separating two people becoming a metaphor for a love that remains beautiful but just out of reach. To reach over it requires effort, just as maintaining a connection across distance, uncertainty and changing circumstances does.
Ultimately, Phoebe June isn’t interested in simply documenting her own heartbreak.
She wants listeners to recognise themselves in it.
‘Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate’ is a collection about love, nostalgia, hope and regret and about what remains when something beautiful ends up on the other side of the gate.
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