Karlan G is embracing darkness with his newest single “Rest Up,” a post-hardcore meets pop-punk song centered on emotional intensity.
On “Rest Up,” the Texas solo artist explores the ups and downs of toxic relationships and their sometimes volatile consequences. Karlan channels classic emo like Hawthorne Heights and Silverstein with influence from metal & rock leaders like Bring Me the Horizon and Travis Barker.
The track’s music video illustrates Karlan’s lyrics perfectly. “Crashed my car into the dark / I’m better off dead than with a broken heart,” he sings in the driver’s seat as a pair of women’s hands aggressively grab him from the backseat and at one point, choke him.
Karlan transforms anguish from his own experiences into a captivating narrative of self-destruction and fury.
“Granted some parts of this song are overexaggerated… I obviously didn’t crash my car or drive it off a cliff and die. But everyday, I did feel like I was throwing my life away for something I could never have and I traveled to some very dark places in my mind,” he said of his inspiration for “Rest Up.”
Karlan started his journey as a hip-hop artist but is not new to post-hardcore and emo. “If my 7th-grade self knew he’d be making songs like this, he wouldn’t believe it,” he said.
After releasing the single “Falling” in 2023, Karlan said he found a new confidence in alt-rock, noticing how natural the genre felt. He conveys turmoil and frustration in a way best suited to screaming vocals and tense guitar riffs.
Karlan uses the song’s climax by layering clean vocals and screams to hammer home the desperate call, “You drove me into my grave.” With melodrama, hype energy and solid production, Karlan G earns his place as an exciting up-and-comer in alternative rock on “Rest Up.”
BSB TV hosted the video’s exclusive premiere yesterday.
