BRITTLE
Brittle is the second single from my forthcoming EP Meltwater, written in collaboration with Colin Macduff. The song explores fragility and emotional risk.
Cover painting by Lesley Woodbrooks
MELTWATER – 2 October 2026
Lyrics
I didn’t see it shatter
I wanted to walk past
But ragged shards lie scattered -
Is it ice or glass?
My pain, will you melt away
Or live to ache another day?
One more fight or is it flight?
Are you coming home tonight?
Are you coming back tonight?
Brittle like the puddle’s skin
Winter-warm and wearing thin
Brittle like your parting pledge
Brittle near the jagged edge
Brittle near the jagged edge
Ice or glass? Glass or ice?
Each lie waiting in the night
Each can cut and each can slice
Then sparkle in the morning light
Thought I knew the two so well
Walking on their brittle shells
Ice has been my contour map
Strange I never heard the snap
Strange I never heard it snap
Brittle as that puddle’s skin
Brittle, brittle, wearing thin
Brittle like your bottled pledge
Brittle near the jagged edge
Brittle near the jagged edge
Credits
Written by Maria Quinn and Colin Macduff
Maria Quinn: piano, vocals, keyboards
Seonaid Aitken: violin
Kristan Harvey: violin
Aaron Morrison: viola
Jessica Kerr: cello
Joanne Freeland: clarinet
Isabella Gonzalez Diaz – horn
Paul Jennings: drums
Produced by Andrea Gobbi and Maria Quinn
Recorded and mixed by Andrea Gobbi at GloWormRecording
Mastered by Andrea Gobbi at Carrier Waves Mastering
Film by Rory Sinclair © & ℗ 2026. All rights reserved