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South African newcomer Tatum tells a twisted tale of heartbreak with her new single “Bloodsport"

South African newcomer Tatum tells a twisted tale of heartbreak with her new single “Bloodsport"

08 May 2020, 10:48 | Written by Matthew Kent

Love is pain, or at least that’s the sentiment South African newcomer Tatum is gunning for on her new single.

Detailing the heart-wrenching horror of a destructive breakup, Tatum’s heartbreak manifests into backstabbing, tortured cries and the ultimate tragedy. The title track from her forthcoming debut EP, it follows the cinematic “Broken” and “Fever”, but “Bloodsport” is strides ahead.

“[This song] is about the devastation that obsessive love can cause” Tatum explains, “heartbreak can make you hard and vicious... and going to war with the one who hurts you seems to be the only remedy for pain.” “It’s about a love so immense that when it’s over, it destroys everything in its way.” However, she adds “[when] looking back at the flames and cinders, the war of love becomes art” and through this contemplation “Bloodsport” was born.



Starting out with sparse piano accompaniment, “Bloodsport”’s binding thread is its songwriting, with her vocals mapping out lovelorn desperation with every breath. Wearing her heartbreak on her sleeve. The honest storytelling continues, even as the song curtails into its dramatic, stuttering chorus. As the track roars into life, like the flames of Tatum’s lyrics, it burns a hole in any illusion of hope that this decimated relationship may return.

“Bloodsport” is out now, the Bloodsport EP is out May 22 via Bad Future. Find Tatum on Instagram.
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