Until now, my musical horizons had not yet expanded into the world of “French language post-hardcore emo”. Chalk Hands have changed that with their new single “Pauvre De Moi”, the second single from their upcoming album The Line That Shapes The Coast Of Us, out 27 March 2026.
Although the explosive lyrics come out in French, Chalk Hands hail from Brighton in the UK; bandmate Antoine Mansion comes from Francophone Belgium. Delivering a powerful vocal performance in a language other than English provides more depth and emotion to this track about deep sadness; it comes from the roots. “Pauvre de moi, j’ai peur de me reconnaître dans ce reflet figé/Alors j’attends, pétrifié, jusqu’au prochain effondrement”, the lyrics go, translating to: “Poor me, I’m afraid to recognize myself in this frozen reflection. So I wait, petrified, until the next collapse.”
The music surrounding the words feels just as heavy. Only a small reflective interlude interrupts the wall of sound behind the cathartic vocals. The band’s explosive sound reflects the rush of the soul caving in on itself, ending with a final flourish of self-pity and anger. The band leaves everything in the music, letting all the dark feelings bleed into the new single.
Chalk Hands will accompany the release of The Line That Shapes The Coast Of Us with a tour of Europe (Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and France) this April. Follow their Instagram for updates, and take a listen to “Pauvre De Moi” through the video below.
Written by Will Sisskind
