ROREY beautifully captures the complexities of feeling everything at once in “Wish I Was Numb,” a dreamy, cathartic alt-pop confession that navigates emotional overload with intimacy, honesty, and radiant sonic light. Written during a mixed manic episode amid the pandemic, this latest release from her sophomore EP ‘Dysphoria’ solidifies the 21-year-old’s status as one of New York City’s most compelling and candid young artists.
I composed it at 2 AM during a mixed episode, experiencing both manic highs and depressive lows without fully grasping the reasons behind it… It’s chaotic and emotional, reflecting just how I felt.
* * *
There’s a unique pain that arises from feeling everything simultaneously – when every thought and sensation floods in unchecked, creating an overwhelming yet exhilarating experience. "Wish I Was Numb" delves into this intense emotional overflow, enveloping its turmoil in a dreamy, radiant alt-pop haze. Sparkling guitars and a lively synth line emit warmth, softening the impact of her lyrics – “I feel too much… Wish I was numb…” – with an almost euphoric undertone.
It serves as the soundtrack to one individual’s existential dilemma; a melody of catharsis in progress: intimate, immersive, and, despite its painful essence, unexpectedly uplifting.
Wish I Was Numb – ROREY
I measure my days
by the empty conversations
I hold with myself
They say it’s just a phase,
but I continue feeling lonely; nothing seems to help
Affirmations and self-reflection
still leave me staring into the abyss
My life feels like it’s in slow motion
terrified, with no one to confide in
Atwood Magazine is thrilled to unveil the music video for “Wish I Was Numb,” the second single from singer/songwriter ROREY’s upcoming sophomore EP Dysphoria (set for release on August 15th via Killphonic Records). Co-produced by her long-time friend and collaborator Scott Effman, the song embodies the struggle between emotional overflow and emotional shutdown – the tug-of-war of wanting to do everything and nothing simultaneously. Written during the pandemic while experiencing a mixed manic episode, Dysphoria represents the 21-year-old New York native's most personal work to date, addressing themes of mental health, identity, and survival through lush, hypnotic soundscapes and profoundly confessional lyrics.
Mm mm mm, I feel too much
Mm mm mm, wish I was numb
Mm mm mm, I feel too much
Mm mm mm, wish I was numb
“My music revolves around our relationships with ourselves and others. It explores self-deviance, self-discovery, and radical honesty, even when it’s painful,” ROREY shares with Atwood Magazine. “I believe I express what many are afraid to voice. It motivates me to know that my songs help people connect with their feelings.”
ROREY’s ‘Dysphoria’ EP
Characterized by ROREY’s soft, soul-stirring vocals alongside glimmering guitars, airy synths, and a rhythm that fluctuates between slow and energetic, “Wish I Was Numb” captures the essence of internal contradiction. It balances being a bedroom confession with a dancefloor release – a blend of melancholy interwoven with vibrant, dynamic bursts of light.
The verses are intimate and sparse, her voice so close that you can almost sense her breath, while the chorus expands dramatically in a wave of shimmering sound, as if her private struggles have emerged into the open. This ebb and flow – of withdrawal and expression, whisper and shout – reflects the very feelings she articulates, where emotions seem too vast to contain and too heavy to bear.
Lyrically, ROREY confronts that burden head-on. She sings about “empty conversations I have with myself,” about drifting in covers and spiraling between sheets, crafting imagery that conveys a sense of restless stillness that’s both mental and physical. Yet despite its heaviness, the song refuses to collapse under pressure. Instead, it elevates, lifted by bright melodies and an energizing beat that prevents the sorrow from remaining stagnant. It reminds us that even during periods of emotional fatigue, there can be movement, progress, and even joy – not in spite of the pain, but because of it.
What am I searching for, always in quest
It's merely the surface they perceive
Ripping myself apart
it’s becoming darker than it appears
Drifting in covers,
spiraling down within these sheets
The sun is rising but it’s blinding
unsure of who I want to become
ROREY © Ebru Yildiz
ROREY © Ebru Yildiz
The “Wish I Was Numb” music video adds an extra layer to the emotional release of the track, showcasing ROREY in various locations throughout her cherished Manhattan. She dances alone in
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ROREY expresses the beauty and weight of experiencing deep emotions in “Wish I Was Numb,” a dreamy and cathartic alt-pop confession that navigates emotional overwhelm with intimacy, truthfulness, and radiant sound. Crafted during a mixed manic episode amid the pandemic, this latest single from her second EP 'Dysphoria' showcases the 21-year-old's emergence as one of New York City’s most engaging and candid young talents.