SPELLLING (aka Chrystia Cabral) has unveiled the new single “Alibi" from her forthcoming album, Portrait of My Heart, out March 28th on Sacred Bones.

Check out the new single below:

Following the lead single (which serves as the album's title track), SPELLLING is sharing another taste of Portrait of My Heart. "Alibi" is a crunchy and riff-y track that features Pat McCrory from the hardcore punk band Turnstile. With the help of McCrory, the artists were able to change Cabral's piano demo of the track to the final version that appears on the album.

On "Alibi" Cabral draws the back the curtain and reveals that she can recklessly throw herself into intimate relationships and then cool on them just as fast. The artist provides more context on what the song means and where it comes from:

“On ‘Alibi’ I’m tapping into the almost kind of comedic and hysteric relief that kicks in when you make it out of the other side of a toxic relationship. Once the spell is broken and clarity restores good sense there’s just this buoyancy to life that lets you laugh at the absurdities.”

The track is riddled with angst and moodiness that pairs perfectly with the upbeat instrumentation. On the chorus she sings:

“You’re a psychopath / And I loved you for that / But I won’t take you back this time / And I don’t take it back Yeah I won’t take it back.”

Cabral also explains that Liz Phair was a major influence for the song, saying "I’m a huge fan of Liz Phair and I let myself channel her very candid and penetratingly plainstated approach to lyricism. This song definitely unlocked this angsty side of myself that was very cathartic and fun to release."

To help shape the new record, SPELLLING worked with a trio of producers — The Turning Wheel mixing engineer Drew Vandenberg, SZA collaborator Rob Bisel, and Yves Tumor producer Psymun – and guest musicians including Turnstile's Pat McCrory, Chaz Bear (Toro y Moi), and Zulu’s Braxton Marcellous.

SPELLLING Portrait of My Heart Tour, USA 2025:

04/04 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
04/24 Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
04/25 Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole
04/26 Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar
04/28 Austin, TX @ Parish
04/29 Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
04/30 New Orleans, LA @ Santos
05/02 Atlanta, GA @ The EARL
05/03 Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle
05/04 Washington, DC @ Union Stage
05/06 Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
05/09 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
05/10 Amherst, MA @ The Drake
05/12 Detroit, MI @ El Club
05/13 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
05/14 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
05/15 Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
05/17 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
05/19 Reno, NV @ The Holland Project

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