herbie the rabbit makes a stunning solo debut with "Burn the Witch"
Stepping out entirely on your own for the first time has to be an unnerving feeling as an artist. However, herbie the rabbit, the new solo project from Dan Marsh, captures that leap beautifully with his debut single "Burn the Witch." After years fronting Ubiquity Machine, this marks the first music Marsh has made completely by himself, with no others to lean on, but just his own writing and the confidence to put his name behind it. Trust us when we say the result is genuinely stunning.
Thematically, this track digs into something really timely and thought provoking, exploring the ways we conform, sometimes just to be accepted even when we privately disagree. In a world increasingly shaped by AI and misinformation bending our belief systems in ways we don't always notice, that exploration feels especially relevant! The lyricism throughout is incredible and sincerely makes you question the reality around you rather than just observing it from a distance.
Musically, "Burn the Witch" lands somewhere in alternative pop territory, but with a cinematic, smooth quality to the vocals that gives the whole track a real film-like feel. Produced by Jordan Lawlor of M83, a personal hero of ours, the synth work throughout is fantastic. It’s undeniably immersive and atmospheric in a way that pulls you completely into the song's world. There's a euphoric quality running through it too, even as the lyrical content stays dark and sardonic. We felt the song was full of contrasts in that way, but somehow he makes it work wonderfully by the end.
At just over three minutes, the song makes great use of its runtime, shifting Marsh's vocal delivery in the second half in a way that amplifies both his performance and the instrumental surrounding it. That build gives the track such a cool momentum where you barely even realize its happening, and it pays off perfectly in the final minute with a sparse but incredible electric guitar solo that elevates the entire song right as it closes out. This is one of those songs that at least sonically, you don’t really ever know what’s coming next, but for us that was a major highlight. There’s no predictability on “Burn the Witch”.
Knowing this music comes from Marsh's lived experience with ADHD, autism, and C-PTSD adds real weight to the whole thing. It definitely gave the song a lot of depth, letting it work as both a personal reckoning and a broader commentary on conformity. Considering it’s just his debut single under this moniker, let us overwhelmingly say that we are so ready for the follow up.
It's a remarkable debut single and a super exciting first step for herbie the rabbit as Dan Marsh finally steps into the spotlight entirely on his own terms. For now, we urge everyone out there to click those links below to listen in and of course to follow along for more!
Listen to “Burn the Witch”
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