Afrojack collaborator Wrabel solves the Rubik’s Cube of songwriting on “Bloodstain”

Ingenious production is a hallmark of Wrabel’s sound, and in this case it’s the doctoring of his vocal in the chorus that really grabs your attention. “Bloodstain” is a richly textured, driving chunk of indie-pop that sees Wrabel not only lay his emotions bare, but open them to the scrutiny of his listeners as he magnifies them to epic proportions.

“I write a song because it’s probably something I won’t say out loud,” Wrabel explains. “That’s the only way I can survive: to be as open and transparent as I can be.”

“When the Rubik’s Cube of the song hasn’t quite clicked, and it’s about to, you can feel it — everything turning to lock this thing in.”