Ally Evenson Bares Her Most Taboo Thoughts In New Single “The Line”
Ally Evenson’s highly anticipated new single, “The Line,” ushers in some of her most personal lyrics laid atop a pristine, sparkling beat. The Detroit-raised, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter has a history of pushing boundaries in her previous work, and this track is no different. The astonishing contrast between the sugar-coated production and the gravity of Evenson’s message is notable; this duality serves to highlight each part of the song individually as well as how the lyrics and music unexpectedly come together to create a unified work of art.
Right from the get-go, Evenson dives into heavy topics. She discusses feeling totally numb with lyrics such as “Haven’t felt a thing in a long long time.” She goes even further with this motif, touching on abusing substances to take away her pain in the second verse. Her delivery of “Found myself halfway through the bottle / Fork in the road / Fork in the socket” is incredibly intriguing, as it is underscored by cheerful major chords, glossy instrumentation, and a brisk drumbeat that drives the entire song forward. Evenson herself even mentioned that the song was written as a joke, highlighting her ability to take serious themes and create enjoyable and palatable music out of them.
The accompanying music video to “The Line,” described by Evenson as the prequel to her 2024 album BLUE SUPER LOVE, is nothing short of twisted. Evenson is haunted and taunted by a demonic clone of herself sporting her signature blue knitted hat. As she runs away from her alter ego, she continuously begins to vomit blue strings of yarn, representing the presence of the manic persona inside of her. At the end of the video, Evenson’s evil twin forces the hat onto her head, and our protagonist slowly morphs into the very version of herself she’d been trying to escape the whole time. The video is graphic, creepy, and a stunning visual companion that offers the story behind the single’s cover art.
Evenson’s ability to create such a cohesive track out of juxtaposing sonic and lyrical connotations is not only impressive, but it is something very few artists can achieve. While the single is about some of her darkest feelings, it also represents change and transformation, understanding what it means to toe the line between giving up completely and growing from your pain. “The Line” is Ally Evenson stepping into a new era, and we’re here for it.
