The Ups and Downs of Being in Your Twenties: A Look Back at Em Beihold’s Latest Album, Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter
- Hanna Nyberg
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
Written by Hanna Nyberg
| Beihold’s second full-length album takes her listeners on a journey of self-discovery as she navigates romance, friendship, mental health, and fame.
You know the feeling when you listen to an album for the first time and think to yourself, “This album is definitely going to stick with me: how have I never heard of this artist before?” That’s the feeling I got during my first listen of Em Beihold’s most recent album, which came out in February 2026. Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter impeccably blends pop beats with themes of young womanhood. Whether it be loneliness, depression, grief, self-doubt, trying to build your confidence and not caring about what other people think, Beihold explores it all.
In the first song, “Scared of the Dark,” Beihold starts the album with a more somber theme of feeling uncertain in herself and her relationship with another person, but quickly transitions with the literal flip of a switch, to using an upbeat, catchy, and almost anxious, melody to convey her fear of being left alone. One of her lyrics, “Scared of the dark, scared of my codependent heart,” represents not only the anxiety of losing someone but also of the aftermath of when you are left alone with your thoughts.
She then transitions into the second song on the album, “Brutus,” which tackles the theme of insecurity or inferiority. Comparing herself to Brutus and the subject of her song to Caesar (minus the knives), she is clearly envious of their success. This song seamlessly flows into her third song, “Unicorn,” which is fueled by higher confidence, and almost euphoric backup vocals, as she begins to let go of her old relationships and see unique qualities she brings to the table.
In recent interviews, Beihold has openly talked about her struggles with depression and weaves this subject into her music. This topic is wonderfully represented in her fourth song, “Van Gogh,” as she explores the shift from isolating and never making a scene to letting herself bleed freely in front of those around her. “Hot Goblin,” the fifth song on the album, also focuses on self-exploration and identity as Beihold opens up about her tendencies to feel both beautiful and ugly simultaneously - something I think many women can relate to (I know I do).
The self-judgment carries into song number six, “Exorcism.” Beihold uses serious, yet sarcastic lyrics and an upbeat and bouncy melody to convey the dislike of her own company while in “Lottery,” she seems to admit that she would be happy to not win the lottery because even if it brought her money and fame, everything would feel dishonest. People would cling to her only because of what she has, not because of who she is. In “Soup!” and “Shiny New Things,” Beihold continues to be weary of others’ intentions and perceive a lack of substance and authenticity within some of those around her. During my first listen of these tracks, I started to sense more maturity and growth in her lyrics.
The last two songs close out the album with a more melancholy, yet secure, feeling. In “Strong Medicine” Beihold admits her reliance on medication to get her out of her depressive episodes. As that song fades out, there is a drastic tempo change as you begin to hear the sound of an elderly woman leaving a phone message - Beihold’s grandmother. “Won’t Let Go” is the most grounded and slow track of the album as she focuses on reassuring her grandmother, who struggles with dementia, that she will never let her go, no matter what happens or how many memories fade.
Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter is a true testament to the humorous, confusing, and sometimes heartbreaking truths of young womanhood. Beihold’s musical talent and her willingness to be vulnerable and pull from the deepest of her experiences is sure to bring in more and more fans, just as it did with me.
Em Beihold is bringing her latest album to a live audience through her current Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter tour which wraps up August 19. Tickets are going fast, so be sure to check out her website and social media (linked below) for more information on tour dates and other future projects.
Em Beihold
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