Nessa Barrett - Dying on the Inside

General Information

• Artist: Nessa Barrett
• Release Date: February 25, 2022
• Producer: Evan Blair

Themes and Concepts

• Main Theme: The song addresses the pressures and struggles associated with beauty standards and eating disorders.
• Personal Struggle: Nessa Barrett expresses personal difficulties with societal beauty expectations.
• Mental Health Awareness: The song aims to bring awareness to eating disorders and mental health struggles associated with body image.

Lyrics Overview

Verse 1

• Being complimented for beauty but feeling a lack of confidence.
• Obsession with appearance and society’s focus on looks.
• Keeping struggles hidden from others, feeling surrounded by them.

Pre-Chorus

• Unspoken struggles during social interactions, like dinner conversations.
• Struggling to maintain composure and keep issues internalized.

Chorus

• Beauty as a double-edged sword, causing self-harm.
• Pressure to maintain physical appearance through harmful methods.
• Irony of looking best externally while suffering internally.

Verse 2

• Desire to destroy self-image, feeling pressure to disappear.
• Battling internal demons and recurring negative feelings.
• Fears of losing validation if not adhering to beauty standards.

Bridge

• Recurring themes of appearance obsession and societal pressures.

Song Inspiration and Message

• Inspiration: Nessa Barrett wrote the song from her personal experiences with beauty standards and eating disorders.
• Message:
  • It’s a critique of harmful societal beauty standards.
  • Encourages listeners to recognize and address mental health issues.
  • Aims to comfort those struggling by letting them know they are not alone.

Production Credits

• Writers: Evan Blair, Mags Duval, Nessa Barrett, Slimdan
• Publisher: Warner Records, Hipgnosis Songs
• Music Contributors: Evan Blair contributed bass, drums, guitar, synthesizer.
• Mixing and Mastering: Mark Spike Stent & John Greenham

Additional Notes

• The song was performed live by Nessa Barrett during her 2021 tour in Mexico.
• It was released during Eating Disorder Awareness Week to shed light on related struggles.
• Nessa hopes the song will raise awareness and help others facing similar challenges.