HOT TRACK: “Kafka” by Jinjer

From their forthcoming album Duél, set to be released on February 7th, Jinger’s latest single, “Kafka,” is a ferocious track that speaks to the raw challenges artists face when living under constant scrutiny. 

Tatiana Shmayluk’s vocal performance is central, switching seamlessly from clear, haunting tones to visceral growls that burst through in a final, powerful release. 

On the song Tatiana says,

“Being an artist is sometimes beautiful but most of the time it’s brutal… as our art is dissected word for word and ripped apart note by note, we‘re expected to be on point all-the-time … and when we aren’t, we are scandalized. A true artist is vulnerable but the crowd is most often plagued with vultures who pick at every single move you make. It’s a slippery slope when music means the world to us but how quickly praise turns into prosecution… We are all Kings and Queens for a day but most of the time it feels like a Kafka novel for a lifetime. It‘s exciting but surreal and absurd at the same time …”

The sonic intensity of “Kafka” matches the thematic weight Tatiana describes. Starting with a heavy, crawling tempo, “Kafka” sets an ominous tone, with the music gradually building in tension and unleashing the band’s signature intensity. The song doesn’t rush but takes its time to cultivate an atmosphere that feels both tense and captivating, as if pulling one deeper into Jinger’s own dark, introspective world. The build-up is relentless, layering weighty riffs with Tatiana’s vocals that are sharp and cutting, like they’re chipping away at the one’s defences.