Decadence’ finds Tebsin in full view, unfiltered and hard to ignore

Carefully balancing desire and melancholy, passion and gloom, Tebsin introduces her brand of sad girl pop with debut single ‘Decadence.’

We’re drawn into her intimate world with a reverb-drenched guitar riff reminiscent of mid-2000s alt pop. Produced by Will Henderson, the track opens slow and close. Tebsin’s tranquil vocals flow from the outset, breathy but urgent. 

The music shifts with waves of guitar and vocal harmonies that wash across the mix. Drums come in, joined by sharp, pointy synth lines. All of this bubbles beneath the surface as the tension builds through the chorus, peaking in the sensually loaded line “I wanna be alone with you.”

Formerly the front person of pop-punk group False Heights, ‘Decadence’ signals the beginning of Tebsin’s solo project, not just in release, but in theme and intent too. Raised in the 90s to believe that music could be nothing more than a hobby, to be pursuing it fully and on her own feels indulgent. This feeling runs through the track, framing intimacy as something both essential and slightly dangerous, whether it’s with a person, feeling or art itself.  

‘Decadence’ offers a first glimpse into Tebsin’s indulgent world, with more still to unfold.