Track Review: Demi Lovato, “Skin of My Teeth”

There’s no way to discuss the musical lineage that spawned recent smashes like Olivia Rodrigo’s “good 4 u” without spending some significant time on Demi Lovato. From “Get Back” and “La La Land” to “Don’t Forget” and “Remember December,” Demi’s penchant for pop-punk has been alive and kicking since their Disney days in the late aughts. Their new track, “Skin of My Teeth,” acts as the lead single for Holy Fvck, their upcoming eighth studio album and first since 2021’s Dancing With the Devil… The Art of Starting Over.

Demi’s last record, which scored a Bulletin Awards nomination for Album of the Year, was a patchwork of redemption, healing, and unflinching self-reflection. From a “funeral” for their pop music and an edgy new haircut to collaborations with All Time Low (“Monsters”) and Winnetka Bowling League (“Fiimy”), “Skin of My Teeth” follows a series of tightly curated moments to cement this pivot. Yet, “Skin of My Teeth” is less of a pivot and more of a homecoming. “Demi leaves rehab again / When is this shit gonna end,” they wail at the beginning of the song. Self-referential lyrics rarely work, but with Demi, an artist whose discography and persona are built on pillars of honesty and openness, it’s a seamless fit. Demi spends the track wailing alongside brash guitars, rollicking drums, and an on-the-nose interpolation of Hole’s “Celebrity Skin.” The bridge is the most crucial part of any song, especially in pop-punk, and Demi absolutely nails it. Their reverb-drenched voice warbles “I’m just tryna keep my head above water / I’m your son and I’m your daughter” — a brutal couplet that balances the relentless struggle of addiction and Demi’s own nonbinary identity.

“Skin of My Teeth” is an intense listen, but it’s the most natural use of Demi’s voice in years. Their forays into pure pop and R&B were fruitful, but their pop-punk moments are enveloped in undeniable effortlessness. As Holy Fvck draws nearer, hopefully, the other songs on the album have more meticulous engineering. Demi’s vocals sit quite low in the mix of “Skin of My Teeth”; their voice is uncharacteristically swallowed by the instrumentation in a way that doesn’t feel intentional. Nonetheless, pop-punk Demi is back and better than ever.

Score: 70