“Belladonna” by Ev. G: A Lush, Dreamlike Exploration of Early Love and Ambiguity

With a groove-laced pulse and evocative lyrical abstraction, “Belladonna” marks a transportive new chapter for artist and songwriter Ev. G. Taken from his debut album, And Then I Go Up (out September 23rd), the avant-pop track merges asymmetrical rhythms with ethereal textures and subtle hip-hop swagger to conjure a lush, hallucinatory atmosphere. Fittingly named after the infamous poisonous plant, “Belladonna” leads listeners down a curiously oblique path – somewhere between dream and distortion, clarity and mystery.

The single began with a simple piano loop and drum pattern from producer Brock Geiger, which inspired lyrical ruminations and a bedroom demo from Ev. G. That raw seed evolved into a fully immersive sonic world shaped by Geiger, Will Maclellan, and a cast of standout musicians, including Gabe Noel (bass), Kane Ritchotte (drums), Ethan Gruska (ambient loops), and Clea Anaïs (cello). A vocoder-style vocal layer, first introduced by Maclellan, brought unexpected texture and set the tone for the rest of the track’s evolution.

“It deals with some of the feelings you get when things are still just unfolding in those early stages of a relationship,” shares Ev. G. “That strange awareness of all the uncertainty, and the excitement that comes with it.” Inspired equally by emotional ambiguity and the layered history of the belladonna plant – from ancient witchcraft to Renaissance-era cosmetics – the track explores dualities of danger and beauty, hope and delusion. “We rarely live in absolutes,” Ev. G notes. “Except my cat, Pinot. He absolutely rules.”

When Evan G began writing fragments for his debut LP, And Then I Go Up, he couldn’t have anticipated what they would grow into. Years later, a trusted creative bond with longtime friends Brock Geiger and Will Maclellan transformed those fragments into something deeply personal and sonically bold. Recorded between stints at Sound City (LA), Brock’s Studio B (Calgary, AB), and Tall Pines Studio (Temagami, ON), the resulting album is a richly layered collection of oblique textures, vivid imagery, and emotional openness.

With a signature blend of genre-agnostic production and impressionistic lyricism, Ev. G invites listeners into a world where ambiguity is not a flaw, but the feature.

“Belladonna” exemplifies this vision with its intricate layering and careful balance of moods. The track’s foundation of asymmetrical beats resists predictability, reflecting the unsettled emotions Ev. G describes. Its ethereal synths and cello passages weave through the mix, producing a soundscape both delicate and intense. The vocoder effect adds a modern yet haunting vocal dimension that floats just beyond clarity, reinforcing the theme of ambiguity.

The collaborative nature of the track’s production is key to its immersive quality. Brock Geiger’s initial piano and drum loops laid the groundwork for an exploration that went far beyond the bedroom demo stage. Will Maclellan’s role in introducing the vocoder textures added a defining sonic identity, while the contributions of Gabe Noel, Kane Ritchotte, Ethan Gruska, and Clea Anaïs enriched the arrangement with organic warmth and subtle complexity.

This communal approach reflects the album’s overall ethos — one where friendship and trust allow artistic fragments to grow into a fully realized and emotionally resonant whole. Ev. G’s personal storytelling and poetic lyricism come alive in a setting that feels open and intimate yet textured with layers of meaning.

Thematically, “Belladonna” is a meditation on the blurry, exciting, and sometimes dangerous edges of new love. The choice of the belladonna plant as a metaphor is especially apt, given its historical associations with beauty, mystery, and toxicity. Ev. G’s lyrics and delivery capture that tension, conjuring images that are both alluring and unsettling.

By embracing uncertainty and the complexity of emotions, Ev. G challenges listeners to reconsider what it means to experience love and connection. “We rarely live in absolutes,” he reminds us — a line that encapsulates both the song’s poetic core and its sonic adventurousness.

As the lead single from And Then I Go Up, “Belladonna” sets the tone for an album that promises to be an evocative journey through mood, memory, and sonic experimentation. Ev. G’s debut not only introduces a distinctive voice but also a fresh way of thinking about music — where the in-between spaces and unresolved feelings become the heart of the story.

In a musical landscape often focused on polished certainty, Ev. G’s “Belladonna” is a bold statement that embraces the shadows and shimmering light of human experience with equal grace. The track’s intoxicating blend of rhythm, texture, and lyrical nuance invites listeners to lose themselves — and maybe find something new along the way.