Michigan-based artist, producer and songwriter Twin Phase, the musical project of Marcus Assenmacher, returns with ‘Break’, a new single that signals a darker, atmospheric and more emotionally charged direction following his previous release, ‘Falling’. Drawing on personal frustration and the psychological pressures of navigating the music industry, the track finds Assenmacher exploring the need to step away from familiar patterns and reclaim a sense of creative freedom.
Built around pulsing indie bass grooves, glowing vocals and understated synth textures, ‘Break’ gradually establishes an expansive atmosphere before opening into a hook-driven chorus. Gentle, restrained vocals sit alongside delicate guitar work, while the carefully considered arrangement allows each element room to breathe. Running just over three minutes, the track demonstrates an instinct for knowing exactly when to hold back and when to let the music expand. There is an ambition to its sound, but little unnecessary embellishment, with the contrast between its understated verses and more expansive moments giving the song its sense of momentum.
Beneath the melodic appeal, however, lies a more turbulent subject. For Assenmacher, ‘Break’ emerged from a period of growing disillusionment with the music industry and the impact it can have on an artist’s relationship with their own creativity. As he explains, “‘Break’ really came out of my frustration with the music industry and the effect it can have on you mentally. Music has always been something I love, but the industry around it can make you question that relationship and feel like you’re constantly caught in the same cycle. The song is about reaching that point where everything has built up, and you just want to tear it all down and start over. There’s definitely a mental health aspect to it, recognizing when that pressure becomes too much and needing some kind of release. I wanted the production to carry that tension too, with a darker, more aggressive energy than anything I’ve released as Twin Phase so far. It felt like the right song to finally let some of that frustration out.”
That tension between creative passion and industry pressures gives the single much of its emotional weight. Rather than simply documenting frustration, ‘Break’ channels it into something more cathartic, with its darker production reflecting the desire to dismantle expectations and begin again. It represents a notable shift in tone for Twin Phase, bringing a more visceral edge to a sound that has continued to evolve across his previous releases.
Assenmacher’s musical background is as varied as the influences informing the project. Before establishing Twin Phase, he studied music in New York City and worked out of NYC studio Beat360, developing his skills as a producer, songwriter and session and touring musician. His credits include work with Junglepussy on the album ‘JP3’, which received recognition at the 2019 A2IM Libera Awards, alongside touring experience with Teddy Geiger, Lauv and Sammy Adams. He has also written and produced material for Dillon Cooper, Neverwaves and Ricky Reed, building a broad creative foundation across different corners of contemporary music.
The origins of Twin Phase can also be traced to Assenmacher’s early involvement in the punk and emo scenes, alongside his subsequent exploration of pop, hip-hop and electronic production. These seemingly disparate influences have helped shape a project that draws on an eclectic musical history without becoming confined to any single genre. With previous releases approaching 70,000 Spotify streams, Twin Phase continues to establish its own identity, combining melodic accessibility with a willingness to explore more introspective territory.
With ‘Break’, Assenmacher appears ready to embrace a different kind of creative honesty. It is a song shaped by frustration, but one that ultimately finds purpose in release, transforming the pressures surrounding music-making into a compelling piece of alternative indie songwriting. If this single signals the direction of what comes next, Twin Phase is entering an intriguing new chapter, one that places emotional expression and artistic independence firmly at its centre.
