Shetland-raised dark-pop artist philomenah’s newest sobg explores the uncomfortable territory, with a brooding excursion into gothic electronica, alternative R&B and the stranger corners of the human psyche… it’s timely relevant as Halloween 2026 has come around! Following her previous release, which explored independence and self-governance, philomenah turns her attention inward, examining what happens when betrayal brings out parts of ourselves we’d rather keep hidden.
philomenah’s newest song is built around murky electronic textures, hypnotic rhythms and an unsettling vocal delivery, as the song draws inspiration from Jungian psychology, astrology and the mythological figure of Lilith, transforming a deeply personal experience into something that feels almost ritualistic.
The song emerged after philomenah experienced a serious violation of trust, prompting her to question not only the person who betrayed her but also her own relationship with vulnerability, desire and control. “This song came about after a particularly challenging interpersonal experience involving a violation of my trust which I wrote about in order to try and process,” philomenah says about her new song.
Rather than burying those feelings, philomenah turned to the Jungian concept of the shadow self, the parts of our personalities we suppress because they make us uncomfortable. That internal struggle runs throughout the lyrics, particularly when philomenah describes trusting somebody with her darkness only to discover that her confidence had been betrayed. Elsewhere, references to a Black Moon Lilith transit, spiritual transformation and a baptism by fire give the song an almost occult atmosphere, while its more conversational moments bring everything back to painfully recognisable human experiences. There’s even a reference to making a life-changing decision at a Blondshell concert, grounding all that psychological and astrological imagery in something unexpectedly ordinary.
Combining lo-fi VHS footage, esoteric symbolism and the unsettling atmosphere of found-footage horror, the music video for philomenah’s “black moon lilith” shows how she was inspired by the underground aesthetics of dark trap and cloud rap, as its grainy imagery feels deliberately removed from the polished presentation usually associated with pop music. That creative freedom is becoming an important part of philomenah’s identity and it shows throughout.
“In order to process and find meaning in this experience, I turned to depth psychology, particularly Jungian psychology, spirituality and astrological theory,” philomenah continues. “I made an effort to embrace the darker aspects of myself (my shadow) and integrate these into my psyche rather than suppressing them and shrinking myself. The song itself acts as a conversation between myself and my unconscious mind.”
philomenah’s “black moon lilith” isn’t about becoming a completely different person after being hurt, as it’s about recognising the parts of yourself you’ve been taught to fear, and discovering that they might deserve to be heard, too. I really feel that the closing lyrics are especially confronting, touching on medication, despair and the desire to reclaim control over her life. Rather than presenting healing as a neat journey towards happiness, “black moon lilith” acknowledges how complicated and contradictory that process can become.
