Lost in the Haze: Freak Slug’s New Single “If I Could” Cuts Right Through the Noise

If you’re burnt out on hyper-processed pop and want something that actually feels like a gut punch, pull up a chair. Manchester-born multi-instrumentalist Xenya Genovese—better known as Freak Slug—is back with a brand new single, “If I Could”, and it’s easily one of her sharpest cuts yet.

It’s the latest taste from her upcoming sophomore album, Amulet, which lands on September 18 via Future Classic. If this track is any indicator, the record is going to be a heavy rotation staple for anyone nursing a broken heart this autumn.

The Reality of a Breakup, Zero Filter

Musically, “If I Could” leans into that woozy, hazy alt-rock sweet spot Freak Slug does so well. The guitars drift and loop around a slow-burning rhythm section, creating a sound that feels equal parts comforting and deeply unsettling.

Lyrically, though, she completely skips the clichéd heartbreak tropes. Instead of writing a melodramatic ballad, she taps straight into the chaotic mental ping-pong of moving on. As Genovese puts it herself:

“‘If I Could’ is obviously a love song – breakup shit. It’s about missing someone, and everyone knows that feeling. It’s like, yeah, well, here I am going through a breakup. Sometimes I miss them, sometimes I hate them, and sometimes I don’t even fucking remember them.”

That cynical, exhausted honesty is what makes the song stick. It doesn’t pretend healing is linear; it just sits in the mess of it all.

Keeping It Northern and Unpolished

What makes Amulet particularly exciting is how Genovese is leaning into her roots. For this project, she made a deliberate choice to let go of any pressure to sound “neutrally American” or overly polished.

Instead, she’s letting her Manchester accent and delivery bleed right through the vocal tracks. Drawing a direct line from legendary hometown acts like Oasis and The Smiths to the swagger of Arctic Monkeys, she keeps the rough edges right where they belong. The result is music with actual personality—something that feels increasingly rare.

What Else Do We Know About Amulet?

Ever since “Radio” first started making the rounds back in 2020, Freak Slug has been carving out her own weird, wonderful lane blending bedroom pop with 90s indie grit. Amulet looks like the culmination of that journey—pushing things into darker, sharper, and far more confident territory.

Quick Details:

• Track: “If I Could”

• Artist: Freak Slug (Xenya Genovese)

• Album: Amulet

• Release Date: September 18

• Label: Future Classic

Along with the single, there’s a gorgeous, cinematic music video directed by St Clair Bryant (who’s also worked with The Last Dinner Party), courtesy of Pulse Films. Plus, she’s hitting the road this fall with a string of Rough Trade in-stores and a full international tour across North America and Europe.