With “MIND GAMES,” Ashton-under-Lyne’s own $ir Decay opens a window into his most vulnerable moments, trading his signature hard trap and boom bap intensity for something rawer and more introspective. The single captures a side of the artist that feels deeply personal — a confession set to sound.
Co-produced with Isak C, the track leans on a haunting beat that swells with emotion. From the first few bars, you can feel the weight of what Decay’s been carrying. The production has a deliberate rough edge — slightly chaotic, drenched in reverb, and alive with imperfections that somehow make it more human. Every breath left in the mix adds texture, grounding the track in honesty. “MIND GAMES” tells the story of heartbreak, confusion, and isolation. You can hear the tension between self-doubt and resilience in his delivery — it’s not polished, but that’s exactly what makes it powerful. There’s no filter, no front. When he says this was recorded in his bedroom, you can feel it — not as a limitation, but as a statement of independence and self-expression.
The song’s emotional pull rests in its balance between pain and clarity. The influence of artists like Josh A, iamjakehill, and NF comes through in the confessional tone, but Decay’s approach feels distinctly his own — less about imitation and more about revelation. MIND GAMES isn’t just another emotional rap single; it’s a raw diary entry turned into art. It represents $ir Decay’s evolution — from a producer of heavy beats to an artist unafraid to expose the fragility behind the fire. This track is a small glimpse into a mind learning to heal through sound, and it’s his most honest work yet.
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