B-Side Guys

Music becomes weapon in Izzie Derry’s “If They Knew What You Did,” a track that transforms personal trauma into public reckoning. Released in the wake of International Women’s Day, this self-produced single demonstrates how artistic expression can shift shame from survivor to perpetrator—a transfer of emotional burden executed with surgical precision.

Derry’s Glastonbury-tested vocals cut through the mix with controlled fury, particularly effective when interrogating her attacker with the deceptively simple question: “How can you look at me after what you did?” This direct address establishes both accusation and accountability, positioning the listener as witness rather than voyeur. The repeated “If they knew what you did” functions not as chorus but as incantation—each repetition stripping away layers of secrecy that often protect abusers.

Musically, the track navigates the treacherous territory between restraint and release. The verses maintain taut tension through minimalist instrumentation, allowing Derry’s vocals to convey both vulnerability and growing resolve. This deliberate containment makes the explosive chorus sections—where she reveals “you used my body for your own amusement”—all the more devastating. Sam Clines’ mixing work and Jon Astley’s mastering (whose credits include Eric Clapton and Tori Amos) enhance these dynamic shifts without sanitizing their emotional impact.

What distinguishes this track from similar explorations of trauma is its investigation of familial implications. When Derry questions whether her parents “would still look at me the same,” she articulates how assault victims often carry double burdens—the violation itself and the fear of how disclosure might permanently alter their most fundamental relationships. The production choices enhance this exploration, with haunting backing vocals that suggest internalized doubt.

The track reaches its emotional apex with the defiant declaration: “You can break my body, you can bruise my skin, but I will never let you win.” This mantra of resistance, delivered with increasing intensity through four repetitions, transforms from statement to manifesto. Derry’s delivery reveals influences from both PJ Harvey’s unflinching intensity and Fiona Apple’s willingness to vocally embody emotional extremes.

With “If They Knew What You Did,” Derry has created something beyond mere catharsis—she’s crafted a musical exorcism that others might utilize in their own healing journeys. Her grandfather once formed a jazz band in a WWII prisoner of war camp; now Derry continues this family legacy of transforming confinement into expression, demonstrating how music can function as both documentation and liberation.