Mary Strand’s shimmering and nostalgic latest single, “Does Any of This Really Matter,” is a psychedelic swirl of existential inquiry wrapped. Departing from her garage and power-pop roots, Strand floats into psych-rock territory with surprising ease. The track, released June 13 via Hygh Tension Records/Virgin Music Group, is a shimmering, introspective preview of her forthcoming album I Don’t Need Your Permission, due this August.
The song opens with comforting guitar strums and sparkly melodies, creating a dreamy yet grounded atmosphere. Strand’s wispy, high-toned voice slides effortlessly through each line, hypnotically unbroken, with a conversational frankness. Her lyrics tackle the passage of time, mental strain, and the universal fear of forgetting who we once were. “You race to keep up but still fall behind,” she sings, perfectly embodying the breathless confusion of keeping up with appearances.
The instrumentation is where the song truly blooms. Layered with sitar, Mellotron, and reverse electric guitar—all courtesy of Ryan Smith—the soundscape bends and swirls like a kaleidoscope. Mark Wade’s bass pulses underneath like a steady heartbeat while Jack Strand’s drums hold it all together with a hypnotic thump. The bridge lifts into a warmer, melodic space that glides over the thumping rhythm, evoking the weightlessness before being gently grounded again.
With a clear nod to psych-rock classics and a lyrical touch that borrows from literature and philosophy, “Does Any of This Really Matter” helps you get lost in sound while quietly asking if being lost might be the point. Listen to it on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan