“nodus tollens” is the collaboration between UK artists mesnes. and tegan jorja, released earlier this year on May 22.
Drawing influences from artists like Ethel Cain and Ruby Haunt, the song leans into multiple genres: Slowcore, folk, alt rock, and even touches of country. Characterized by bittersweet guitar melodies, distant vocals and a restrained, melancholic atmosphere, “nodus tollens” slowly unfolds through layers of pedal steel, Nashville-tuned guitars, sub basses, and soft synth textures, all working together to create a sound that feels intimate and emotionally overwhelming at the same time.
Lyrically, the track revolves around jealousy, self-comparison, and the struggle of feeling disconnected from your own life path. According to the artists, the song explores the way people try to replicate what they see in others in hopes of finding something better for themselves, becoming obsessed with lives that may not even be real to begin with. There is a strong sense of emotional displacement throughout the song, portraying someone desperately chasing an idealized feeling while slowly losing sight of themselves in the process. By the time realization arrives, the narrator is left confronting the painful feeling of having wasted time while remaining no closer to fulfillment than before.
What stood out to me the most was how naturally the song balances heaviness and restraint. Rather than relying on dramatic climaxes, “nodus tollens” lets its emotions slowly seep through the cracks of its atmosphere. It reminded me of those songs you put on late at night when everything feels slightly too quiet and your thoughts begin catching up to you. mesnes. and tegan jorja manage to turn feelings of confusion, longing, and emotional exhaustion into something strangely beautiful, making “nodus tollens” feel less like a song and more like quietly sitting with emotions you have been avoiding for far too long. You can check it out here:
Written by Joshua Cotrim
