Welsh alternative songstress Catherine Elms returns with “Medusa”, a hypnotic, piano-driven incantation that reimagines the infamous Greek myth as a modern anthem of radical self-acceptance. The lead single from her highly anticipated second album is a masterclass in tension and release, blending gothic grandeur with raw emotional vulnerability—proving once again why Elms stands as one of the UK’s most compelling dark alternative artists.
Built around a pulsing, serpentine bassline and Elms’ crystalline yet haunting vocals, “Medusa” feels like a séance set to music. The track slithers between minimalist tension and explosive catharsis, mirroring its lyrical themes of repression and liberation. “It’s about loving the monster within,” Elms explains—and indeed, the song embraces its own jagged edges, transforming jealousy, rage, and shame into something strangely beautiful.
Musically, Elms channels the dramatic flair of Kate Bush, the unflinching honesty of Fiona Apple, and the gothic romanticism of Nick Cave, yet her sound remains unmistakably her own. The production is sleek but never sterile, allowing every piano key strike and vocal tremor to land with bone-deep resonance. Critics have long praised her work as “dramatic” (Buzz Magazine) and “not for the faint of heart” (Sinusoidal)—“Medusa” doubles down on that reputation, offering a soundtrack for those who find power in their shadows.
A spellbinding return that cements Elms as dark pop’s most poetic alchemist. “Medusa” doesn’t just stare into the abyss—it dances with it.
