Premiere: Atsuko Chiba - “Torn”
We are very excited to share an exclusive premiere of the second single from Atsuko Chiba’s forthcoming self-titled album. Set to arrive on April 24th, their latest offering finds the band at their most collaborative with each and every member sharing the roles of engineer and producer. The result is a further expansion on the sounds found within their last release, Water, It Feels Like It's Growing. Rich layers of sonic mastery come together as the band continues to experiment with nods to prog, psych, krautrock, post-rock, and post-punk to craft their distinctive approach to the “art-rock” genre.
Today we are sharing “Torn,” a turbulent mix of synthetic sounds that collide together with a rock solid rhythm section like waves crashing against a rugged shoreline. Sonically, this prog/krautrock inspired jaunt is equal parts raw power and beauty while thematically, “Torn” is centred around a tale of megalomania, pinning unhinged ambition against self-reflection.
The band further explains the story behind the track:
“Torn” explores the struggle with anxiety through the lens of overconfidence, transforming imposter syndrome from a state of paralysis into propulsion. By constructing a false reality, the protagonist earns the trust of those around him through promises he can not keep. He embarks on a quest to control the world around him, while gradually losing himself in the deception of others—and his own. Eventually, he stares into the mirror and no longer recognizes the person looking back. Over time, he becomes a composite of the characters and narratives he has invented, dissolving into his own fiction. The game becomes indistinguishable from reality, breeding a deep and growing unease. Panic attacks and episodes of depersonalization follow, each one pushing him further, eroding sleep, stretching time, tightening the tension in his chest. At the edge of a cliff—unsure how long he has been awake—he searches for release as the pressure becomes unbearable. This release is marked by the shift at the end of the song. What happens next remains unresolved: does he jump, or does an old photograph—himself beside his father—surface from his wallet, pulling him back toward the memory of who he once was? We don’t know.
Check out the visualizer for “Torn” below and head over to Atsuko Chiba’s Bandcamp Page to Pre-Order the album digitally, on vinyl, or on CD. Finally, if you’re lucky enough to be in Montreal or are attending SXSW in Austin, make sure to check out Atsuko Chiba.
2026.03.12-18 - Austin, TX @ SXSW
2026.07.04 - Montréal, QC @ FIJM (w/ Goat)
