REVIEW: Bunnie Embraces Estrangement on “Prodigal Son”
WRITTEN BY ANNE TILLEY
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With a clear, smooth voice backed by the fuzzy drones of a distorted guitar, Bunnie’s “Prodigal Son” details truths as complex as the sound of the track itself. Part poppy vocal, part heavy alternative rock anthem, the track exists in nuances and overlap of emotions, catharsis, and suppression. Gaby Pesqueira (Bunnie) is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, often tackling heavy, resonant themes regarding suffering, loneliness, and abandonment in her tracks. “Prodigal son” follows a similar vein, with a soaring, catchy riff balancing the otherwise grim yet beautifully damning lyrics.
Bunnie’s inspiration for the track draws on her real-life experience facing rejection from her church. She claims the track is “about…losing my whole community. I came out as queer, and everyone who said they loved me stopped talking to me. At first it broke me, but slowly, I regained my voice.” Bunnie artistfully translates this gutting emotion into wistful, meditative, and striking lines, such as “When you’re on your knees, asking God for forgiveness, do you want mine too?”
With a crystal clear and unshakable, firm voice, Bunnie sings “Lord forgive me, I do not know what I do.” The arguable thesis statement of the quick, 2:57 track, Bunnie effectively captures the guilt and fearlessness associated with her harrowing experience. Though her voice and perspective may be unique to her own life, her talent for storytelling makes the heart of the song applicable to any listener, who can’t help but feel seen by the track’s vulnerable lyricism.
“Prodigal Son” is part of Bunnie’s first batch of releases, joining “Martyr,” which she cites as a “somber lament for wasted suffering,” and “Fix,” a “cathartic self-destruction anthem.” Together, the tracks form a holistic image of an artist growing into her extraordinary, intelligent yet youthful voice, courageously chronicling heartbreak and coming of age.
