Review: "Broke Skin" - John Fellner
- Alexa LaMalfa
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
When relationships come to an end, it’s hard not to think back and wish you could go back to when times were simpler. It takes a lot of effort to try to fix something that’s already broken, and “Broke Skin” by John Fellner describes more in depth how turmoil in a relationship can reach a breaking point. This breaking point could show that these unresolved emotional issues within his relationship weren’t able to heal. When you scrape your knee, you use a Band-Aid because you need to cover up the damage in order to heal it. If you leave your wound untreated, the pain can become unbearable leading to other issues. Now think of that in terms of a relationship. John has already implied that there are already wounds either in the relationship itself or how he feels personally. By trying to cover up the wounds, it’s almost like neglecting the hurt that he’s experienced. The wounds that are broken can potentially mean that the relationship was already doomed from the start, considering the lyrics mention talking in circles and arguing about the same points over and over again, which is just making everything worse.
Produced by Fellner himself, “Broke Skin” is a song about how a relationship can take a toll on a person’s overall being, regardless of if they are still in the relationship or if it’s over. It’s a beautifully arranged acoustic indie-folk track. John’s voice is so smooth. He’s able to convey the feeling of love and heartbreak just by how he sings. It sounds like he’s yearning to go to the past and make things right in the relationship he sings about. I really love when songs have an instrumental build up that supports the lyrics and the way it’s sung. The song starts on a more acoustic note with a guitar, but later on you can hear subtle drums and upbeat claps which I thought was a really nice touch. This sounds like it could be a Noah Kahan song and coming from me that’s an extremely high compliment.
John Fellner is a singer, songwriter, and producer from Ontario. He draws inspiration for his music from experiences of grief, infatuation, and breakups, which is a reflection of his art. He blurs the lines between indie, folk, and R&B. He got his start in the music industry behind the scenes as a producer. He’s a JUNO nominated producer and songwriter who has worked with some of Canada’s most notable artists. In 2023, he won the Aeolian Hall songwriting contest and Slaight Music’s It’s Your Shot Contest. Fellner is a verified artist on Spotify and has over 23,000 monthly listeners on the platform. It’s clear John is one to keep on your radar. Check out “Broke Skin” and give it a listen!
Written By Alexa LaMalfa
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