Soon, Zehnder plans to release Fiber, a collection of songs exploring “isolation, heartbreak, escapism, and inadequacy.” The record’s lead single ‘Butcher Block’ focuses on the latter in particular. Its repeated refrain of “I was not the sharpest one” serves a conceptualisation of feelings of ineptitude, confronting the sense that one does not match or live up to societal standards.

Speaking to this doubt, the song is hushed and hesitant at first, sitting more firmly in the bedroom pop bracket than previous Robert Zehnder releases. But as it progresses and the vocals take on a deadpan air, the track takes off in its back half, mixing shoegaze heft with a dark rock energy of which Crazy Horse or Magnolia Electric Co. would be proud.

On top of the heights, yeah
with everyone one, yeah
I wasn’t playing dumb, yeah
in the weirdest light

I wasn’t the sharpest one

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