There’s something magnetic about a track that feels both cosmic and completely grounded at the same time. Secret Bad Boy’s new single with Ezra Furman, “In the Fullness of Time (You Become All the People You Claim to Revile),” does exactly that. It’s a bounding rock song packed with synths and a baritone guitar that sounds like it’s wearing dark sunglasses, and people are already locking into it—over 10,000 streams in the first week alone.
Secret Bad Boy is the art-pop project of Chicago musician Ben Joseph, a longtime member of Ezra Furman’s band. The songs lean on rich, synth-forward textures and a knack for the unexpected. They’re intense and sincere without tipping into pretension. This particular cut features Ezra Furman herself (yes, the same Ezra Furman connected to Netflix’s Sex Education), and the chemistry is obvious. Joseph handles the project side while drawing on a deep well of collaborators across his broader work—names like Vulfpeck’s Woody Goss, Packy Lundholm, members of Mild High Club, and Brian Wilson collaborator Paul Von Mertens have all been part of the wider orbit. A run of new singles is rolling out through 2026, all building toward a debut album in 2027.
Musically, “In the Fullness of Time” sits right at the intersection of synthpop, indie rock, and alternative rock. The synths give it that heady, glowing quality, while the baritone guitar adds a shady, driving edge that keeps the whole thing from floating away. It’s a rock song at its core, but the production keeps it modern and a little mysterious. Joseph has talked about the writing process in a way that matches the track’s feel. On the chorus he wanted a line that communicated “the immense cosmic, biblical significance of not taking oneself too seriously.” That balance—big ideas delivered with a shrug—comes through clearly. The second verse contains the line “are you covered in blood on the inside?” which Joseph frames as a central question the project poses: Are you hanging on to what is human within you? Does your gut speak to you, and do you listen? Are you unafraid to hold things in your heart?
That mix of sincerity and slight irreverence feels timely. Indie and alternative scenes have spent the last few years leaning into more personal, emotionally direct songwriting while still embracing electronic textures. Tracks that can be both danceable and introspective keep finding an audience, and this one sits comfortably in that lane. The early streaming numbers suggest listeners are responding to the combination of familiar indie-rock energy and the slightly left-field synth and guitar interplay.
If you’re an independent artist trying to get your own music onto the major platforms without losing your mind over the logistics, DistroKid is still one of the cleanest options out there. You upload once and it goes out to the services that matter, and you keep a bigger share of the money. Right now you can grab 7% off your membership with this link: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/2058328. It’s a practical move that lets you focus on the songs instead of the distribution headaches.
Secret Bad Boy and Ezra Furman have put out a track that feels considered without being precious. The synths push, the guitar pulls, and the questions underneath stick with you. Give “In the Fullness of Time (You Become All the People You Claim to Revile)” a spin and sit with it for a minute. What do you think of this particular blend of synthpop and indie rock energy? Drop your thoughts in the comments—curious to hear how it lands for you.
