MARCH 6, 2022
WRITTEN BY DANI RIDDLE

renforshort harnesses relationship angst in 'moshpit' for a darkly catchy single

moshpit is the first single from Lauren Isenberg’s, aka renforshort’s, upcoming album. At just 19, the Canadian singer-songwriter seems to have already found her voice, tapping into a unique mixture of angst and indifference in her lyrics and delivery. She embodies a cool girl aura. 

In moshpit, renforshort sings about a relationship that she feels trapped in. “Stop this moshpit, I want to get out,” she sings in the chorus. “I’m not having fun anymore.” She compares the way her partner treats her to taking an elbow to the face, or a knee to the chest. Like a moshpit, the relationship started out fun and exhilarating, but devolved into something chaotic and even dangerous. “[I’m] running out of ways to tell you/I’m not who I was when we first met two years ago,” she sings. renforshort acknowledges her part in the dysfunction, singing “I’m not saying I’m a saint/But you’re hell.” The song is catchy, intense, and weirdly fun.

The delivery feels bitter, yet too tired to be angry. “I’m exhausted, running on exhaust/It’s getting kind of toxic being yours,” renforshort explains. The production matches the emotions she is expressing perfectly with stripped down percussion, guitar and swirling synths. Vocals take center stage, while the instrumentals layer verse by verse, creating a sense of building anxiety through the bridge. The song seems to escalate as the relationship does. 

What makes renforshort’s music special is her ability to capture an emotion and relay it authentically. She doesn’t seem to shy away from flaws or imperfection, and embraces an edgier persona than similar pop stars. Millions of listeners prove she has found an audience that her music resonates with, and the release of her upcoming album will no doubt propel her career to the next level.