“Anxious Palmistry” by Pretty Abyss: Dark, Vulnerable, and Beautiful

Pretty Abyss, an indie act based in Atlanta, Georgia, has almost no background information available online, yet consistently delivers exceptional music. And they’ve done it again just last week. Their latest EP, “Caught in the Moon’s Jaw”, features three great tracks, one of which—“Anxious Palmistry”—stood out to me the most.

Do you remember the classic film American Beauty and the iconic plastic bag scene? A deeply introspective moment where a camcorder video of a plastic bag swirling in the wind symbolizes the overwhelming beauty in simple, everyday moments—even those tinged with melancholy, fragility, and emotional weight.

I don’t know how I came up with this parallel, but this song feels just like that scene. It’s heartfelt, emotional, a bit dark at times, but beautiful nonetheless. Looking at the artwork of the EP and the artist’s Instagram visuals in general, the connection feels even stronger.

“Anxious Palmistry” is a beautifully layered dreampop piece, pulling you into its vibe with smooth guitar riffs, gentle vocals, and a “less-is-more” philosophy. It reminds us musicians just how much power a great vocal melody holds. Once you have that, you don’t need much more to get listeners nodding their heads along.

Lyrically, it tells a melancholic story of a tenuous relationship while grappling with personal insecurities and fears of commitment. Themes like the struggle for growth and the search for balance in the face of inevitable change or loss run throughout the song. That’s why the parallel with the plastic bag scene resonated so strongly for me.

I’ll be eagerly waiting to see what Pretty Abyss releases next. In the meantime, you can find this track on IndieWave FM’s Bedroom Dream Pop playlist.

Artwork of “Caught in the Moon’s Jaw” EP