“Liar Liar” by Tommy Ashby was released as a part of his brand-new album Mantis on June 5th, 2025.
This track hits that soft, somber indie tone with electronic instrumentation and folk influences. The bass in this track guides the track along moderately, with percussion hitting in and out, playing around it to build a soft rhythm. The overall instrumentation hits in a way that isn’t too simple but isn’t overpowering. At around 01:15, there’s an instrumental bridge that allows a bright buzz with a fingerpicked electric guitar to take the spotlight. There’s almost a picturesque nature built through how the track flows, and it seems to pull the brain into a sense of deep thought. In general, it’s somber and thoughtful.
Lyrically, this track follows the lines of personal introspection. The chorus has a sort of call and response, half the lines chanting “I’m a liar” while also acknowledging that being wrong. The verses get into saying that it’s a secret that no soul will be told, acknowledging another as the narrator’s “own beautiful ruin,” and feelings of hollowness and feeling as if one is a “secret trying to escape.” This track has a lot of pain dashed between its lines. It finds one’s own faults and acknowledges them, but it also seems to get into what it’s like not knowing what to do about said trait.
Tommy Ashby is a Scotland-based musician who uses his PhD in Psychoacoustics to create music that tells tales of everyday life and relationships, as well as nature. On Spotify, he’s already amassed around 4 million listens on Spotify. He’s also been supported on several Spotify editorial playlists and has had his music featured on shows such as Atypical, Found, and Grey’s Anatomy. Additionally, he has toured with artists such as Jamie Lawson and Skinny Living. His work has reached far, and this new album further gets into the depth of his craft.
Written by Sage Plapp
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