Concrete Angel (feat. Christina Novelli)

Gareth Emery's 'Concrete Angel,' featuring Christina Novelli, is a poignant exploration of emotional barriers and the struggle to maintain connection in the face of personal insecurities. The song delves into the complexities of a relationship where one partner is trying to break through the emotional walls of the other. The opening lines, 'Let me breathe you in / And break the words in your mouth,' suggest a deep desire for intimacy and understanding, while the 'shivering' and 'silence' indicate the presence of fear and unspoken emotions.

The chorus, 'If you keep building these walls / Brick by brick tower so tall / Soon I won't see you at all / 'til the concrete angel falls,' serves as a powerful metaphor for the emotional barriers that people construct to protect themselves. These walls, however, can become so tall and impenetrable that they ultimately isolate the person behind them. The 'concrete angel' symbolizes the hardened exterior that one builds to shield their vulnerabilities, but it also hints at the inevitable collapse of these defenses if they are not addressed.

The song also touches on themes of trust and self-awareness. Lines like 'If I'm somewhere else / It doesn't mean that I don't see / That you don't trust yourself / That's why you don't trust me' highlight the internal struggles that can affect a relationship. The narrator's frustration is palpable as they try to convey that their partner's lack of self-trust is the root cause of their mutual distrust. The repeated refrain of 'I knew who you were from the start / But now I don't know who you are' underscores the disconnection that can occur when emotional walls are left unchecked, leading to a loss of identity and intimacy within the relationship.