Musician, singer/songwriter, and “grunge poet” AP Tobler writes catchy songs that center around complex themes of anxiety and depression. Their love with music began at the age of 8 when they discovered the drums. They experimented with the sounds and composition of grunge, hard rock, metal, and jazz before branching out to the guitar and bass.
They just released their new post-grunge and alternative rock single “Hostage.” It has a big Joan Jett rock meets Nirvana grunge style and sound. Their riffs are catchy and their lyricism is beyond powerful. They open with “Strike me down once again/Cause what am I if not used/I’m just a mannequin/Manipulated and bruised,” plainly laying out that the song is about being used and being neglected.
“The lyrics describe feeling like a hostage to the cycle of neglect,” shares AP. “The line ‘Is it karma or is it fate’ expresses the feeling that I might have done something to deserve this. The chorus highlights that central thought. I left the lyrics vague enough that the listener can interpret them in many ways. This is my first time co-writing with my bandmates, and it was fun to create something together.”
“Hostage” is intense and vulnerable. Their combination of lyrics and their signature grunge music is what makes it stand out. Its melody is catchy and the hook grabs you. You will find that you sing the song for hours after listening. Their video for “Hostage,” also out today, depicts the loneliness that usually comes with neglect. AP plays with their band in this video, but nobody is in the same shot. It’s a perfect visualization for being used and the feelings surrounding being neglected.
