Extended Play 011: PNK FME - I've Never Been Me

After a highly anticipated lead up, PNK FME finally releases his debut body of work, I’ve Never Been Me. With a heavy emphasis on mental health, I’ve Never Been Me reveals the confronting demons and scuffed souls of an individual undergoing immense personal growth. With ‘You Never Said’, ‘Body Language’ and ‘Firing Rifle’ circulating up to the EP’s release, the world has tasted PNK FME’s emotional resonance, and now Adelaide artist invites listeners to complete the introspective voyage with ‘Hypomania’ and ‘I Know But You Don’t’ featuring DVNA.

‘Hypomania’ is a deeply personal record for PNK FME, as it delves into the actuality of living with ADHD. The momentum and fluctuation in sonic direction reflects the persistent disinhibition and emotional turbulence that the Adelaide artist experiences daily. A rollercoaster of extreme highs and dismal lows, ‘Hypomania’ warps a stable reality into intangible distortion.

‘You Never Said’ invites the listener into the destructive dissociation from an abusive relationship. Gnarled piano and distorted synths reflect how reckless actions can shatter a facade and reveal the true nature of an individual. The ultimate betrayal of trust drives the fervent tension, as PNK FME’s vehement vocal display slices with unapologetic ferocity. ‘You Never Said’ is a mournful yet empowering odyssey that probes the untamed surge of personal growth from breaking dysfunctional bonds.

‘I Know But You Don’t is the next chapter of personal growth established in ‘You Never Said’. Drawing inspiration from the juxtaposition of the stout structure of a military tattoo with the off kilter aspects of alt-pop; ‘I Know But You Don’t’ is a vessel for an individual to champion their inner vanguard. The amalgamation of PNK FME’s gritty performance and DVNA’s swooning R&B, results in a spellbinding listening experience. The addition of jagged synths that march precisely with percussion, atypical texture profiles and raw acoustics, elevates ‘I Know But You Don’t’ to an ethereal realm. The essence of discovering a sense of self strength is at the core, as an individual rallies and thrusts a counter offensive against oppressive forces with aptitude and eccentricity.

Listen to I Know But You Don't (Feat. DVNA) on Spotify. PNK FME · Song · 2020.

With an unsettled aura and cyclical composition, ‘Body Language’ reflects the notion of repetitive self-sabotage and insecurities. Through moments of somber lyricism, inklings of self-realisation slice through the twisted veil, revealing slivers of actuality. This juxtaposition between an impaired perspective and authentic reality is a demonstration of the daily battle with mental health that affects millions around the world.

‘Firing Rifle’ explores an individual’s interaction with the world while brandishing an internal numbness and missing sense of self. Through the use of barbarous soundscapes, ‘Firing Rifle’ is the iconography of concealed demons, as the warring parties of light and dark wage battle within the introspective arena of the mind. The single acts as a surrendering cry for help as PNK FME strips his fatigues and lays down his arms as a fusillade of antagonism assaults the senses.