The first single from Norah Hendriks’ upcoming sophomore EP I Think We Should Change This, “RAT RACE” is a vulnerable, almost powerless depiction of what it’s like to be young in the modern world, disguised under dreamy acoustic guitars and an addicting chorus.
Pondering questions of the self while watching cities crumble and people bleed through a screen she can’t cross, the track embraces Gen Z adulthood in all its awkwardness, chaos, and uncertainties.
“RAT RACE” juxtaposes the peace of loneliness and unrequited desire with the social unrest of the world as Norah asks: “What’s it like to be wanted? / What’s it like to feel safe with yourself? / What’s it like to be haunted by a kid that keeps crying for help?”. Her unique narrative voice, moving from graphic images of running around in handcuffs to the unfiltered mundanity of crying and liking someone’s story, perfectly explains such inexplicable hopelessness.
This kind of songwriting feels incredibly raw and true to the subject matter Norah investigates, yet at the same time it intentionally comes across on a standard indie-pop beat. She pours her heart out in the verses just to conclude pre-chorus that she is “a rat in a rat race”, that the most personal becomes the most meaningless in the end.
“RAT RACE” is out on all platforms everywhere now.
