Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter Lyrics & Tracklist – Em Beihold

Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter is the forthcoming debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Em Beihold, set to release on February 27, 2026. The record is issued through Republic Records / Moon Projects, LLC and follows Beihold’s rise in the pop sphere with singles like “Numb Little Bug.” The album chronicles themes of identity, emotional duality, creative rebirth and the tension between inner vulnerability and outward confidence.

The project succeeds a period of personal and artistic introspection for Beihold. After experiencing significant success and accompanying pressures from her breakout hits, she entered a creative and emotional reset that informs much of the album’s lyrical content. Working closely with producers and collaborators including James Flannigan and Jason Suwito, Beihold explores a blend of introspective songwriting and catchy pop production that bridges vulnerability with melodic accessibility.

Musical Style and Themes

Musically, Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter is rooted in contemporary pop with nuanced inflections of indie-pop, blending candid songwriting with dynamic arrangements. Early singles such as “Scared of the Dark,” “Brutus,” and “Hot Goblin” highlight Beihold’s emotive vocal delivery, vivid imagery and the album’s overarching focus on contrasts — between fear and courage, light and dark, self-doubt and resilience. Across its tracklist, the record balances introspective balladry with upbeat hooks and textural layers that situate Beihold within the current generation of pop artists who foreground songwriting craft alongside sleek production.

The album is shaped by themes of personal transformation, emotional honesty and the complexities of self-acceptance. Beihold has described the record as a reflection on the “shapeshifting” moments in her life — situations where she adapted to external expectations only to rediscover her own core identity through struggle and creative renewal.

Release Information

Title: Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter

Artist: Em Beihold

Release Date: February 27, 2026

Label: Republic Records / Moon Projects, LLC

Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter will be available in digital, streaming, CD and vinyl formats upon release.

Tracklist

Scared of the Dark
Brutus
Unicorn
Van Gogh
Hot Goblin
Exorcism
Lottery
Soup!
Shiny New Things
Strong Medicine
Won’t Let Go

Credits

Primary Artist: Em Beihold

Performing Artists / Contributors:
Em Beihold – vocals, primary songwriting contributor
James Flannigan – programming, producer (multiple tracks)
Jason Suwito – programming, producer (on “Hot Goblin” and others)
Michael Coleman – drums (on select tracks)
Kevin Farzad – drums (on select tracks)
Jonathan Dreyfuss – strings (on select tracks)
Yi-Mei Templeman – cello (on select tracks)

Songwriting and Composition:
Em Beihold – songwriter across the record
James Flannigan – songwriter (select tracks)
Timmy Skelly – songwriter (on “Scared of the Dark”)
Henry Brill – songwriter (on “Scared of the Dark”)
Nick Lopez – songwriter (on “Hot Goblin”)
Jason Suwito – songwriter (on “Hot Goblin”)

Production & Engineering:
James Flannigan – producer, recording engineer
Jason Suwito – producer, programming
Mitch McCarthy – mixing engineer
Nathan Dantzler – mastering engineer
Joe Grasso – immersive mixing engineer
Augusto Sanchez – immersive mixing engineer
Nate Van Fleet – recording engineer (select sessions)
Michael Harris – recording engineer (select sessions)