Heartworms – Jacked

South London’s enigmatic artist Heartworms has returned with a compelling new single, “Jacked,” marking her first release of 2024. Known for her dark, atmospheric soundscapes, Heartworms continues to explore themes of internal conflict and paranoia in this latest track.

Heartworms describes “Jacked” as a reflection on confronting inner darkness, a theme that resonates deeply through the song’s visceral and confrontational sound. Produced by the ever-talented Dan Carey of Speedy Wunderground, the track blends jet-black guitar riffs with minimalist yet powerful arrangements, broadening Heartworms’ signature style.

The accompanying music video, directed by long-time collaborator Gilbert Trejo, enhances the song’s eerie and isolated mood. Trejo’s creative vision paints “Jacked” as a “soundtrack to a paranoid fever dream.” The video features Heartworms undergoing an intense interrogation, with Trejo using a unique visual technique by scratching out other characters’ faces from the film emulsion, amplifying the sense of loneliness and unease.

Heartworms will also be hitting the road for a trio of intimate headline shows in Nottingham, Blackpool, and London. These performances promise to bring her haunting music to life in a raw, personal setting.

Reflecting on the video, Trejo notes: “To me, ‘Jacked’ is the soundtrack to a paranoid fever dream. There’s a movement and energy to the song that Jojo and I knew we needed to convey when we were writing the video. We wanted her in flight, but she had to be alone in the world, so I went through and scratched everyone else’s face off of the film emulsion with a safety pin. That feeling of loneliness and the unknown. Scary and hilarious.”