Shadows That Don’t Let Go

Some songs arrive gently. Bully Boy does not. Richy McLoughlin comes back swinging with a track that feels deliberately uncomfortable, and that’s exactly the point. As the first taste of his upcoming album Layer XIII, this single sets a stark, uncompromising tone rooted in memory, confrontation, and emotional aftermath.

At its core, Bully Boy is driven by tension. The production leans dark and heavy, creating an atmosphere that mirrors the psychological weight of the subject matter. There’s a sense of claustrophobia to the sound, as if the listener is pulled back into a space they’d rather forget but can’t quite escape. McLoughlin’s delivery carries a raw urgency, balancing anger with reflection, never tipping into melodrama. It feels lived-in, not performed.

What makes the track particularly striking is its emotional honesty. Rather than presenting bullying as a closed chapter, Bully Boy explores how those early power struggles linger, shaping identity long after the playground is left behind. The song wrestles with unresolved questions, allowing doubt and vulnerability to sit alongside fury. That tension gives the track its staying power.

As a lead single, Bully Boy does more than introduce an album; it establishes intent. Richy McLoughlin isn’t interested in smoothing over rough edges or offering easy catharsis. Instead, he invites listeners into a reckoning—personal, uncomfortable, and deeply human. It’s a bold, fearless release that suggests Layer XIII will be an album unafraid to stare straight into the darker corners of experience and ask why they still matter.