by Caroline Nieto (@caroline.nieto)
Chicago-based artist Morpho just released the second single from her debut EP, a tantalizing indie rock track called “Half of Two.” The artist behind Morpho, Kristyn Chapman, leans into a 90s sound reminiscent of her guitar inspirations Yo La Tengo and Smashing Pumpkins. She falls in with the female-headed slacker rock revival, joining newer artists like Blondshell and Slow Pulp. The sound is rough around the edges, mixing clean guitar leads with low, distorted chords, all over snare-heavy percussion. Chapman’s voice is mixed with a dry, telephone-like quality that stands out when she sings “undo the unraveling” several times in the pre-chorus.
According to Chapman, the song is all about “making peace with endings,” coming in the form of detangling from a person or thing you can’t seem to shake. The song’s lyric video shows Chapman standing alone at Venice Beach, a tangled blue ball of yarn at her feet. She envisions her “arms [as] tangled thread,” still in the habit of grabbing onto something. As the song continues, she walks farther and farther from the yarn until she’s wading in the sea. The song’s title comes in the chorus, when Chapman sings, “Don’t need to be half of two to be made whole.” It’s a declaration that’s easier said than done, but she’s up for the challenge. Chapman lets her skirt get wet and her feet sink into the sand.
Morpho’s Morpho Season is out November 15th via Hit The North Records.