Singer-songwriter Em Beihold had a four-year journey before releasing her first album on Feb. 27, 2026. Titled “Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter,” Beihold dives into themes of mental health, her sense of self, and social pressure, all while encompassing the powerful lyrics in a fun, very Gen-Z beat.
As an artist, Beihold has grown a lot since her song “Numb Little Bug” went viral on TikTok in 2022. In an interview with Songwriter Universe, Beihold mentioned how she focused on making this new album a true reflection of herself in her music and lyrics, rather than trying to fit into the standard and reputation of a pop star.
Especially throughout her sneak peeks and teasers of the album on social media, whimsy is a word that perfectly describes her album. Songs like “Hot Goblin,” “Unicorn,” and “Soup!” reflect this not only in their titles, but throughout the songs as well.
There are 11 tracks on the album, starting with “Scared of the Dark.” Continuing in the interview with Songwriter Universe, Beihold explains how this song originated in her brain at 13 years old. The mature theme of co-dependency in this song was not present in the original version, but this goes to show that Beihold’s lyrics are carefully meditated upon before making their way into a song.
“Brutus” is a song that illustrates feelings of inferiority. Beihold used creative character building and allusions to Caesar and Brutus from the Roman era to give her song depth. It makes for a more complex listening experience because she is telling the story of her deep personal experience disguised as characters in her song.
Continuing with the allusions, Beihold’s song “Van Gogh” tells of her internal struggles with her mental health. Inspired by the classical piece, “Passacaglia in G Minor” by George Frideric Handel, Beihold wrote Handel’s notes into her pre-chorus to give an auditory representation of spiraling. Another symbolic aspect is that one of Van Gogh’s most recognizable paintings is Starry Night, which captures a spiraling sky.
“If everybody sees my silly little life fallin’ apart in front of me / I’ve never been the type to try and make a scene / I’m Van Gogh / Everyone knows I’m spiraling…”
Beihold’s integration of the lyrics, classical piece, and allusion to Van Gogh make this song immersive with imagery and symbolism.
The songs “Unicorn,” “Hot Goblin” and “Soup!” are a demonstration of Beihold’s unapologetic outlook on life. The songs illustrate her experience of self-discovery and staying true to herself, rather than fitting in with the crowd.
Beihold’s track, “Exorcism,” takes a different turn.
She questions herself with the lyrics, “Is an exorcism what I need to like my own company?” The contrast of her emotions is demonstrated with this song in comparison to her more uplifting songs mentioned above.
There is a juxtaposition with “Exorcism” being the track directly after “Hot Goblin.” It further illustrates her experience of duality within her mind: “’Cause I’ve had enough of me,” from the song “Exorcism,” compared to: “But I know who I am, so I don’t care,” from “Hot Goblin.”
Beihold’s dedication to her art is evident in her debut album through her detailed lyrics, symbolic themes and whimsical instrumentation. Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter transports listeners to a delightful, magical world.
