While many seem ready to throw off their masks and start rubbing up against as many people as possible, there are some who are a little more reticent to get back to 'normal' life. And if that is you, here is your new anthem: 'Hell Is A Crowded Room' by Allison Ponthier.
Actually, this song is for anyone who has ever experienced social anxiety - even those who had it before spending a year and a half being told that any passing stranger might be about to inadvertently kill them.
Ponthier explains: "'Hell Is A Crowded Room' is a song about pushing through social anxiety, especially when it manifests in a really physical way".
"I always wondered why a shy person like me would choose to be an artist when it's constantly putting yourself in front of people, and I think 'HIACR' is a response to that", she goes on. "It took on a much more intense meaning post-pandemic, but I also think that it's an applicable song for anyone that gets nervous in groups and is doing their best to be brave enough to get through it".
The song follows previous singles 'Cowboy' and 'Harshest Critic', plus her collaboration with Lord Huron 'I Lied', and will feature on Ponthier's debut EP, 'Faking My Own Death', which is out on 6 Aug.
Listen to 'Hell Is A Crowded Room' here: