Jakals, the five piece indie-rock band from Boston, are setting off new local music radars again with “Porcelain,” the first single from an upcoming EP called Bat Brains. Sonically, this single is a little more alt-rock than their usual indie leaning stuff, but thematically it’s right on brand.

As a band who sees their music as a constant grappling with insecurity, Jakals’ “Porcelain” isn’t necessarily new territory. One of six songs on Bat Brains, the song describes that feeling of being so consumed with other people’s perceptions that you don’t feel comfortable around anyone.

“It’s about wishing you didn’t feel worthless without other people’s validation,” says Jakals vocalist Katie Solomon about the single.

“I am porcelain,” Solomon declares in the first line. Her lyrics are self-critical to the point of deprecation, but that’s what has always been refreshing about Jakals. Honest themes like this work because their singer/songwriter roots have created a sense of intimacy. 

Solomon then bellows “Am I anybody?” so many times that the phrase becomes almost unrecognizable— a good metaphor for how it feels to fixate on parts of ourselves that others probably don’t even think about. She carries an almost erratic melody throughout the tune, ebbing and flowing through four minutes of extreme, yet ever-trained vocals over tame alt. rock instrumentals.

Catch Jakals grappling live at their next (21+) local show this weekend, on July 22 with Miele at Atwood’s, in East Cambridge. Buy your $7 tickets here and listen to “Porcelain” below.