With “Burns”, Danish dark-pop project TRALALAS continues to build a sonic world where fragility meets intensity, and human emotions are explored with haunting honesty. Released on September 12, 2025, this second single follows the debut track “Winter on the Vine” and further defines the direction of TRALALAS’ forthcoming album, set for release in October.
While “Winter on the Vine” reflected on the cycles of change and acceptance, “Burns” feels far more internal. At three minutes and thirty seconds, the song is compact yet weighty, a meditation on the plasticity of emotions—how loss can sometimes give rise to unexpected connection, how love and friendship are constantly reshaped by time. It is a song that lingers, not just for its atmosphere but for its ability to capture an elusive emotional truth.
Morten Alsinger, the songwriter and musician behind TRALALAS, has had a long and winding creative path. From his beginnings in the electro-punk underground of Jutland and Copenhagen during the 1980s and early ‘90s, to his decade-long work in the electronica duo VERTICAL, Alsinger’s journey has been marked by reinvention. “Burns” is a culmination of those years of experimentation and rediscovery, blending electronic textures with analog warmth, melancholy with a certain understated power.
The track’s production, guided by Alsinger and producer Thomas Li, is both restrained and layered. Brooding bass lines and atmospheric keys provide the foundation, while delicate guitar phrases and Heidi Lindahl’s evocative vocals bring an aching human edge. The result is a sound that feels cinematic yet deeply intimate—something like Leonard Cohen if filtered through the shadowy landscapes of Joy Division or Nick Cave.
One of the defining features of TRALALAS is the collective of musicians who bring Alsinger’s vision to life. Lindahl’s vocals carry much of the song’s emotional weight, both fragile and resolute. Thomas Golzen’s bass and guitar work, Francis Nørgaard Jensen’s drumming, and the additional contributions from Christina Schmidt Damm and Thomas Olsen create a richness that allows “Burns” to shimmer without ever becoming overwhelming. Each element feels carefully chosen to serve the mood rather than dominate it.
Lyrically, “Burns” does not aim for the obvious. Instead, it sketches fragments and impressions that evoke more than they explain. This approach mirrors the song’s theme: the shifting, mutable nature of feelings. The words seem to hover just out of reach, much like emotions themselves, elusive but undeniable. It’s a subtle style that rewards repeated listening, as each pass reveals a new layer of meaning.
As the second single from the upcoming album, “Burns” not only strengthens the identity of TRALALAS but also positions the project as one of the more intriguing dark-pop acts to emerge in recent years. Where many artists lean heavily into either atmosphere or melody, TRALALAS strikes a rare balance between the two, offering songs that are both beautiful and unsettling.
Ultimately, “Burns” is more than just a follow-up single. It’s a statement of intent, proof that TRALALAS is committed to exploring the depths of human connection with sincerity and artistry. If “Winter on the Vine” opened the door, “Burns” invites us inside. And with the debut album only weeks away, it feels like the beginning of something special.
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