Premiere: PENI PARKER - Disrupt

Coming in hot with two and a half minutes of blistering pop punk goodness is PENI PARKER, with her new single Disrupt out April 27 but premiering on Pilerats today!

Produced and mixed by Fletcher Matthews (Trophy Eyes, The Buoys, Dear Seattle), Disrupt features massive, distorted guitars and a relentless rhythm section underpin PARKER’s commanding yet poignant vocals that see her juxtaposing sombre lyricism with big, anthemic choruses.

Speaking on the creative process behind Disrupt, PENI explains “2022 was objectively a terrible year for me. It was just waves of heartbreak; just when I thought it couldn't get worse, 2022 stabbed me in the back a few times for good measure while I was down. It really had me doubting myself. I couldn't intellectualize it all, so I used the EP to channel some of that hurt, playing a lot off those broken-down anti-hero themes to go with my comic.

'Disrupt' particularly was a sore spot. I teared up writing it. Hearing the first mix and performing it hits just as hard. I was in such a dark space that I just used the bridge as a cathartic release and to remind myself of my worth.

Unlike a physical wound, there's no straightforward 'broken to fixed' route with mental health. It's a spectrum from being anxious and wholly overwhelmed to just coping and absolutely thriving. We all have a whole lot of in-between moments & direction changes along the way. 'Disrupt' runs back & forth through these moments, just like when you catch yourself overthinking."

Also striking is the manga-inspired artwork for the single, with PENI inspired by pop culture, anime and superheroes. "It's such a huge part of my story and confidence seeing badass heroes", PARKER explains. "It helps me take on taboo topics. I want to be another voice supporting these fights; I try to use my rage positively."

Give Disrupt a spin a day ahead of release and check out the artwork below!

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