Mothica has released her new EP Somewhere In Between via SharpTone Records, alongside heavy new single ‘Weapon’.
The LA-based artist, real name McKenzie Ellis, wrote the verses for ‘Weapon’ the night before entering rehab. “It was my last night I was truly intoxicated and self-reflecting on the uglier sides of myself,” she explains. “It’s painful to be so self aware but not change anything.” After leaving rehab, she finished the track with Curt Martin, Matty Beats and Trever Stewart, turning that raw vulnerability into a gloomy, industrial anthem.
Somewhere In Between marks a genuine evolution for Mothica, born out of crisis and courage in equal measure. In 2024, she made the difficult decision to cancel her first headline European tour and check into rehab after a pill addiction fuelled by her intense phobia of flying. Rather than letting that darkness consume her, she channelled it into something heavier and more honest than anything she’s done before.
“Heavier guitars, punchier vocals, cinematic synths,” she says of the EP’s sound. “It was tricky figuring out what flavour of rock that’d feel true to me, creating this combination of dark pop and rock and metal.” The five tracks were shaped alongside producers Elliot Polokoff (Drop Dead Gorgeous), Curt Martin (Catch Your Breath), and Zach Jones (The Home Team, Scene Queen, Fever 333), with co-production from McKenzie herself.
Mothica has never shied away from the heavy stuff. Songs like ‘Buzzkill’, which confronted an abusive youth pastor, and ‘Forever Fifteen’, written about surviving a suicide attempt, have connected with listeners worldwide. She’s toured with Coheed & Cambria and Halestorm, racked up hundreds of millions of streams, and seen 2020’s ‘VICES’ hit No. 2 on the iTunes pop chart.
Now sober again and signed to SharpTone Records, this EP feels like a statement of intent. “I thought about quitting music,” she admits. “Finally, I thought, why don’t I channel these feelings into some angry music?”
‘Weapon’ follows earlier singles ‘Save Your Roses’ and ‘Evergreen Misery’. Mothica heads out on an extensive US tour with I See Stars from late February, including stops at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre (4th March) and LA’s El Rey Theatre (22nd March).
Somewhere In Between is out now via SharpTone Records.
TRACKLIST: ‘Evergreen Misery’ ‘Weapon’ ‘Save Your Roses’ ‘BULLET’ ‘Somewhere In Between’.
