Ryan Hemsworth has a new album on the way, and he brought in some serious company to help make it happen. Numbskull, the upcoming record for Topshelf Records, features guest spots from Tegan And Sara, MSPAINT, and Illuminati Hotties. This week, Hemsworth released “Never Learned,” the Tegan And Sara collaboration, and it sounds nothing like what anyone expected from him.
The song arrives with an animated video directed by 3DCG, with art from HIRUCHI. Hemsworth describes the track as a “hyper-compressed emo/metalcore sound complete with blast beats.” He adds that it “rocks harder than we’re used to hearing from Hemsworth or the Quins.”
Hemsworth’s Long Relationship With the Quins
Hemsworth has been a fan of Tegan And Sara since seventh grade. He remembers seeing them on Much Music and becoming an instant fan. “There’s something in their sound that is a real sweet spot between emo, folk, and pop,” he says.
He did not initially make the instrumental for them. Instead, he followed the philosophy of the project by sharing song ideas that didn’t seem perfectly fitting. “They immediately took to that one,” he says.
“It’s been amazing to get to know them a bit and see how professional they are while being respectful to everyone involved in the process.”
The Quins were gracious with their time, talking with him for a while before making anything together. “They made me feel really comfortable to give feedback and bounce a lot of ideas back and forth for melodies and structure,” Hemsworth says. “It’s surreal to be working with them now and especially on a song that ended up so energetic and heavy.”
Sara Quin On The Song’s Long History
Sara Quin offered some context about the track’s origins. She described the song as a chance to “mine parts of myself that still exist.”
“I worked alone in a new house, mid-pandemic, a year before I became a parent,” she says. “Five years and two kids later, I don’t fully recognize the person in these lyrics. That adolescent-fever and angst has gone quiet.”
Some days, she wishes she were less visible, less known than that person so desperate for connection. She is grateful for the chance to explore those older feelings again.
The song also comes with an animated video. Hemsworth explains the concept behind it. “I’ve been watching a lot of Backrooms videos with my seven-year-old lately so the image of escaping a labyrinth has been on my mind,” he says.
“I reached out to some animator friends in Tokyo who are great at making uncanny Blender videos,” he continues. “I wanted to see their interpretation of a video game version of myself eternally stuck in a loop.”
What The Video Shows
The video is directed by 3DCG, with art from HIRUCHI. It follows Hemsworth’s idea of a video game version of himself trapped in a labyrinth. The Backrooms aesthetic is a clear influence, though Hemsworth does not describe the video in detail beyond that.
The song itself is the main draw. Hemsworth’s production leans into a heavier sound than his usual work. The blast beats and the overall energy mark a departure from his previous records.
The collaboration brings together two artists with very different audiences. Tegan And Sara are a pop duo with decades of hits. Hemsworth is a producer known for his work with Topshelf. Their paths crossed, and the result is a track that neither artist had planned.
Numbskull Release Date
Numbskull is out 10/21 on Topshelf. Pre-orders are available now.
The Track’s Place In The Album
“Never Learned” is one of the high-profile collaborations on Numbskull. The album also features MSPAINT and Illuminati Hotties. Hemsworth has been sharing songs from the record in advance, and this is the biggest one so far.
The song’s energy is the key to its appeal. It rocks harder than Hemsworth or Tegan And Sara have ever sounded together. That is the good kind of surprise.
A Track Worth Hearing
“Never Learned” is a track that rewards attention. It pulls together a pop duo, a producer, and a heavy sound into something coherent. The video adds a layer of visual weirdness that fits the song’s mood.
Hemsworth’s statement about the recording process is generous. He describes the Quins as professional and respectful. The mutual comfort in giving feedback shows in the final product.
The song also carries a personal weight for Sara Quin. Her admission that she no longer recognizes the person in the lyrics is a rare moment of vulnerability from a pop star. It makes the track more than just a collaboration; it becomes a statement about time, identity, and the people we leave behind.
“Never Learned” is a strong entry in Hemsworth’s catalog. It pushes him into new territory without losing his identity as a producer. The Tegan And Sara feature gives it a mainstream hook, and the Backrooms-inspired video adds a dash of surrealism.
The song is available now, with the video attached. Numbskull arrives on 10/21.
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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