Dan Marsh steps out on his own with “Burn the Witch,” the first release from his solo project, herbie the rabbit. Following his years as one half of Ubiquity Machine, the new project takes a different direction, bringing together dark humour, strong narration and introspective songwriting. The single is the first in a planned run of releases leading toward an album over the next year, with production from Jordan Lawlor of M83.
“Burn the Witch” looks at how quickly people can decide who is guilty when they are given a version of a story they have not bothered to question. Its lyrics turn that accusation back toward the crowd, asking where responsibility lies when people accept what they are told without finding out what is actually true. The song carries a sardonic edge, but underneath it is a serious question about conformity, social pressure and the consequences of following the crowd.
That idea extends into the thinking behind the song. Herbie the rabbit explores the difference between going along with others to avoid rejection and accepting the behaviour of others as evidence of what is true when we are uncertain. The song asks what happens when fear, hope, teaching and social pressure become stronger than our willingness to think for ourselves.
Lilith provides the central figure for the song and its artwork. Described in the material as the first witch, her story of refusing to accept a position beneath Adam and choosing to leave becomes a fitting reference for a song concerned with obedience, defiance and the treatment of those who refuse to conform. The cover draws on Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Lady Lilith.
Herbie the rabbit is the solo project of Dan Marsh, who is making music entirely on his own after years fronting Ubiquity Machine, which built more than 10,000 Spotify followers. Written from lived experience of ADHD, autism and C-PTSD, the project explores dissociation, hypervigilance and a skewed sense of blame through dark, character-driven songwriting.
With Jordan Lawlor behind the production, “Burn the Witch” introduces Herbie the rabbit as a new chapter for Marsh, placing the writing and the story firmly at the centre.
Listen Here:open.spotify.com/track/5W36fDyHqupqUivde
Follow Herbie the Rabbit: @herbierabbit