Chelsea Wolfe - 'Tunnel Lights'
On 29th November, Chelsea Wolfe’s single about healing, ‘Tunnel Lights’, from her new album, She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She, came out via Loma Vista Recordings.
The topic of She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She is ‘choosing to live rather than merely exist.’ The album, to be released on 9th February 2024, explores the cyclical nature of healing. Transformation and rebirth are major themes. Wolfe says, “It’s a record about the past self reaching out to the present self reaching out to the future self to summon change, growth, and guidance. It’s a story of setting yourself free from situations and patterns that are holding you back, in order to become self-empowered. (Prescription PR, 2023)” This album invites listeners to step into their authenticity. Wolfe has already received heaps of support from BBC Radio, Clash, Line of Best Fit, Prog, Revolver, Stereogum, and many more.
“Tunnel Lights” is a nod to production techniques from the ‘00s and ‘90s with a slightly jarring set-up of an electronic drum playing with bass and piano while Wolfe’s mesmerising, glitching voice soars with the ever-evolving state of the instruments. Produced by Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio and Shawn Everett of The Killers and War on Drugs, the reverb and distortion are heavy in this one. “Tunnel Lights” may remind one strongly of Evanescence. The lyric “I’m sanctified in my lover’s eyes” poses many questions. Is Wolfe implying that the lover is her past self, her current self, or her future self? Could it be someone else? We listeners are left to guess on our own, bringing our subjective interpretations to the table. She sings: “No way around it/No way to fight/A pull too strong,” hinting that this ‘pull’ is gravitational, taking her to meet other versions of herself. The song builds in the latter half with a thumping bass and guitar growing darker and edgier. Wolfe’s conclusion is, “The way is through our tunnel lights.” We must find the light in the dark to move onward in our self-healing journeys.
A powerful song about healing, Chelsea Wolfe has captured the essence of her transformative process through the channel of creativity and music in “Tunnel Lights.” This single is a testament to grieving, reclaiming, and embracing all parts of ourselves, what we keep hidden and what we honour.
Wolfe’s accompanying music video also paints a cathartic picture of her self-evolution with intense imagery. Watch here, and listen to her new album on your favourite streaming platform.
Words by Sydney Kaster
