hendren – Cannot Heal (2023)
The brainchild of singer-songwriter Marty Zwart, hendren finds the line between Father John Misty and Radiohead with Leonard Cohen sentimentalities. For just over three years, or at least according to Spotify, the Netherlands-based musician has turned heads with his intriguing music. From Lost In The Manor to Underground ‘N Proud, Mystic Sons, Rock Noticias, Zone Nights and Iggy Magazine, hendren is reaching audiences in Europe and beyond. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘Cannot Heal’.
Following his single ‘Biombo (Demos)’, ‘Cannot Heal’ is one of hendren’s first releases since the well-received 2021 album 1. Dragging us back to the heyday of grunge, ‘Cannot Heal’ has a reminiscence of the sounds of Nirvana and Radiohead. Bold guitars meet pounding drums within a hazy sonic whirlpool. Yet, while the whirlpool is filled with a soothing rock-inspired flavour, the mild distortion of the arrangement makes for an intriguing comfort within discomfort. I find this particularly interesting as it so elegantly aligns with the theme of the single.
Often touching on elements of mental health and addiction there is a dark intimacy in hendren’s mystical melodies. ‘Cannot Heal’ captures the frustration, inner turmoil, desperation and angst experienced when living with a mental health condition. In this case, it refers to hendren’s diagnosis of ADHD.
“’Cannot Heal’ is a song about neurodivergence/ADHD. Now I know what it means, I know I’ll never heal from it. The constant distractions around me and the pendulum swing of my mental health make more sense now that I know my brain wasn’t wired for this society.” – hendren on ‘Cannot Heal’
Intimate and vulnerable, the melancholic darkness that is ‘Cannot Heal’ drags one down to a mire of despair; however, it is not all doom and gloom. Just as the song places you in a melancholic sonic pool, a hint of optimism and hopefulness exists. Instead of merely being lost, hendren finds that shining light of understanding, accepting and living with ADHD.
In addition to his single, hendren released an official music video for ‘Cannot Heal’. You can view the video on his YouTube channel. Please note: this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
For more from hendren, check out his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
