(Indie Rage Radio) - Mindy Jackson, known as the powerhouse lead vocalist of Virginia hardcore band Dying Oath, steps into the solo spotlight with her haunting and confrontational single, “Frenemy.” This track isn’t just music, it’s a gut-punch of truth wrapped in distortion, vulnerability, and defiance.
“Frenemy” is Mindy’s raw personal exploration of living with borderline personality disorder (BPD), a condition often misunderstood or misrepresented in the mainstream. Rather than tiptoe around its complexities, Mindy plunges headfirst into her experience, unafraid to portray herself as both victim and villain in her own mental health narrative. The result is a self-aware anthem about emotional chaos, accountability, and the duality of loving and loathing oneself.
Vocally, Jackson masterfully walks a tightrope between sorrow and strength. Her clean melodies feel exposed and aching, while distorted harmonies and moments of aggression reflect inner turmoil. She sings not just about pain, but through it, making the performance feel intensely lived-in and emotionally immediate.
It’s a vocal delivery that’s as theatrical as it is authentic, one moment singing self-doubt, the next screaming into the void.
Musically, “Frenemy” borrows from alternative and modern hard rock. Layers of atmospheric guitar riffs, moody synths, and pounding drums build a sonic bed that mirrors the internal highs and lows of mental illness. The structure is unpredictable in the best way, mirroring the emotional seesaw of the song’s subject matter.
Where the song truly shines is in its lyrical transparency. Lines about self-doubt, self-harm (emotional or otherwise), and interpersonal sabotage are delivered without apology or euphemism. It’s this unfiltered honesty that gives “Frenemy” its emotional gravity. Mindy’s willingness to admit her flaws while also calling for empathy is a rare and welcome duality in music about mental health.
She doesn’t paint herself as a tragic hero, nor does she seek pity. She simply tells the truth and dares us to sit with it.
"Frenemy" is a cathartic cry for understanding, a deeply personal track with universal resonance. Mindy Jackson has not only created a compelling new single, but also a vital piece of advocacy for those struggling in silence. In a world that still stigmatizes mental illness, she’s chosen to scream where others might whisper, and the world is better for it.
Rating: 9/10 – Powerful, personal, and painfully real.
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