SCARLET TANTRUM

North Carolina’s Scarlet Tantrum return with their latest single, ‘Inside Out‘, a compelling indie rock track that fuses emotional intensity with cinematic depth.
Hailing from Carthage, the band – fronted by a magnetic female vocalist – has been steadily carving out a distinctive voice in modern rock, blending moody production, immersive atmosphere, and lyricism that cuts straight to the heart.
‘Inside Out‘ begins with a slow burn, each note carefully layered over shimmering guitars and steady percussion, before exploding into a soaring, emotionally charged chorus.
The song explores obsession, desire, and the precarious line between longing and losing control.
Lines like
“Look what you’ve done to me now
You’re all I think about”
strike with raw honesty, while the repeated refrain
“Hearts burning from the inside out”
transforms into both confession and catharsis.
The production heightens the tension throughout, creating a dark, atmospheric backdrop that mirrors the push-and-pull energy of the lyrics.
Every layer, from textured guitar lines to immersive percussion, serves the song’s emotional narrative, allowing listeners to feel the consuming intensity of desire and vulnerability.
With ‘Inside Out‘, Scarlet Tantrum deliver more than a single – they offer a fully realized vision of their sound:
haunting, urgent, and unforgettable.
It’s a track that lingers long after the final note fades, confirming the band as a rising force in indie rock capable of marrying raw emotion with cinematic artistry.

“My music lives in an emotionally intense inner world.”

“Catharsis and connection are more intertwined than people realize.”

“Emotion feels like deep reds and bruised purples – intense, but not harsh.”

“The fear is quieter, and the honesty is stronger.”

“Feeling small or unseen doesn’t make you weak.”

“Live performance turns something private into something shared.”

“Some emotions never really age.”

“Clarity without over-explaining lets listeners find their own stories.”

“Lyrics, melody, and intention are sacred to me.”

“Vulnerability is not weakness – it’s courage.”

Scarlet Tantrum doesn’t write songs to soften the edges of emotion – she writes to sit inside them.
From burnout and obsession to grief, longing, and quiet resilience, her music explores the full weight of feeling without apology or disguise.
It’s intimate but expansive, deeply personal yet instantly relatable.
Across her recent singles, Scarlet Tantrum has carved out a space where vulnerability is not a weakness, but a force – one built on honesty, nuance, and emotional patience.
In this interview, she opens up about grief, growth, collaboration, and why letting emotions lead is the most truthful path she knows.
Your singles range from emotional burnout (‘Mannequin‘) to obsessive protection (‘Covered in Red‘).
If your music had a personality, what kind of inner world would it live in – chaotic, hopeful, desperate, or something else entirely?
“My music lives in an emotionally intense inner world – not chaotic for the sake of chaos, but deeply feeling. It’s vulnerable, conflicted, and passionate. There’s sadness, longing, anger, and hope all coexisting at once. It’s the kind of inner world where emotions aren’t muted or ignored.”
Many of your songs deal with intense emotional states.
Do you ever feel pulled between writing for catharsis and writing for connection – and how do you balance those impulses?
“I think catharsis and connection are more intertwined than people realize. I usually write for myself first to process what I’m feeling and the connection comes naturally once it’s released. When I’m truthful, people find their own meaning in it and can connect with it in different ways than others. The beauty of being so vulnerable in music is letting other people connect and feel vulnerable with you.”
Your stage name combines your fiery red hair with the idea of a ‘tantrum‘.
If emotion could be a color or force, what would it look like in sound and why?
“Emotion in my music feels like deep reds and soft bruised purples – intense but not harsh. Sonically, that translates to intimate vocals, layered harmonies, and dynamics that swell and pull back. It’s not about volume; it’s about impact. A tantrum, to me, is any powerful emotional release – love, grief, sadness, desire – and that’s exactly what the sound reflects.”
You’ve said music helped you find a voice when you felt unheard.
How do the voices of your younger self and your current self differ in the songs you write now?
“My younger self wrote from a place of confusion and needing to be understood. My current self writes with more clarity and acceptance. I still feel deeply, but now there’s more confidence in saying, this is how I feel and it’s valid. The fear is quieter, and the honesty is stronger.”
‘Other Side‘ was born from a personal experience with grief.
How does writing about loss compare to writing about anger or desire – in both process and impact?
“‘Other Side’ was one of the hardest songs to write and put out. It has taken me a long time to get to a point where I felt I was ready to share this song with everyone. I was ready to open up about something that still felt so recent and like I hadn’t come to terms with my emotions. Writing about loss is way heavier and It takes longer and requires more emotional patience. Anger and desire are immediate – they burn hot and fast – but grief sits with you. Songs about loss tend to linger longer, both for me and for listeners.”
If you could curate the soundtrack for someone going through the toughest moment of their life, which Scarlet Tantrum track would you choose first – and what should they listen for?
“I’d choose ‘Insignificant’. I’d want them to listen to the vulnerability – the softness and the space between the words. It’s a reminder that feeling small or unseen doesn’t make you weak, and that your emotions deserve to be acknowledged.”
How does performing live – especially after years of battling self-doubt – change your relationship to a song compared to the studio version?
“Live performance transforms a song from something private into something shared. After battling self-doubt for so long, singing these songs on stage feels freeing. Having fans that scream the lyrics back at me feels so surreal and it truly is the best thing ever. The imperfections during the live versions make it more real. It reminds me that the song doesn’t belong only to me anymore – it belongs to the people who feel it too.”
Your influences span indie pop, 90s/00s alt-rock and fearless performers like Hayley Williams and Halsey.
If you could have dinner with any of your influences and ask one question, who would you choose and why?
“Hayley Williams. I’d ask how she learned to evolve creatively without losing herself. She’s explored different genres and collaborations while staying genuine, and that kind of artistic integrity really inspires me.”
A lot of your songs touch on relationships that changed you.
How do you decide when a personal experience becomes a song – and when it stays private?
“If an experience still feels too raw or unresolved, I keep it private. When I can step back and understand it emotionally, that’s when it becomes a song. Writing isn’t about exposing everything – it’s about telling the truth when you’re ready.”
As an artist who works independently and also collaborates in studio (like in Nashville), how do you navigate the tension between control and collaboration?
Which parts of a song are sacred to you?
“I absolutely love to collaborate. Collaboration works best when there’s trust and egos don’t get in the way. I’m open to all ideas, and in collaboration everyone needs to be. Also know your strengths and weaknesses in the writers room. Are you good at coming up with melodies? Are you not the best at coming up with catchy hooks? You need to be able to work with people that can also help fill the areas where you feel weak. The lyrics, melody, and intention – are sacred to me. Those elements carry the truth of the song, and everything else should support that, not dilute it.”
You write with raw emotional honesty – but indie audiences also crave nuance and metaphor.
How do you balance personal truth with artistic storytelling?
“I let emotion lead and storytelling follow. Metaphors come naturally once I understand what I’m feeling. I don’t force them – I let them reveal themselves. The goal is clarity without over-explaining, so listeners can find their own stories inside mine.”
Your music often acts like a mirror – holding up pain, strength, vulnerability.
If you could change one common misconception about vulnerability in songwriting, what would it be?
“That vulnerability is weakness. It’s actually one of the strongest things you can offer as an artist. Being open takes courage, and it creates connection in a way nothing else can.”
In the fast-moving world of singles and streaming, which song of yours feels the most timeless – the one you know will still resonate in 10 years – and why?
“’Other Side’. Grief, love, and loss are universal and timeless. That song comes from a place that never really ages, and I think people will continue to find themselves in it years from now.”
Scarlet Tantrum’s music doesn’t rush toward resolution – it allows emotions to breathe, to linger, and to leave marks.
Whether exploring grief, self-doubt, or quiet strength, her songs refuse to dilute feeling for comfort or convenience.
In an era of fast releases and fleeting attention, her work stands out by embracing patience, honesty, and emotional depth.
These aren’t songs designed to pass quickly – they’re songs meant to stay, to grow alongside the listener, and to remain relevant long after the moment they were written.
by Fok ‘bs’