Stephanie Babirak has announced her second album, ‘Rotten Fruit,’ set for release on June 12, 2026. The news arrives with the introduction of its lead single, ‘Hey Cain,’ which comes out March 27.

Based in New York City, Babirak is a harpist, singer-songwriter, and composer whose work moves comfortably between classical performance and contemporary songwriting. With a master’s degree in harp performance, she continues to perform in classical settings while also writing and releasing original music that leans into jazz and art-pop.

On ‘Rotten Fruit,’ Babirak brings the harp out of the recital hall and into a more modern folk-pop context. The album layers its distinct, airy sound with guitar, bass, drums, and synthesizers, reframing the instrument in a way that feels very grounded. The project was written in collaboration with longtime creative partner Peter Scoma.

The album centers on themes of morality, inheritance, and emotional contradiction. Drawing loosely from biblical imagery, it explores disillusionment, love, estrangement, and the complexity of being perceived or perceiving oneself as “bad.”

‘Hey Cain,’ the album’s lead single, sets the tone for the narrative that unfolds across ‘Rotten Fruit.’ Inspired by the story of Cain and Abel, the song focuses on a particular kind of loss: the experience of letting go of someone who has already let go of you.

As Babirak describes it, the song reflects the grief, betrayal, and confusion that come with mourning someone who is still alive…someone you continue to love. While writing, she found herself thinking about the line “Love is patient, love is kind,” and questioning its truth. The song leans into the idea that love can be deeply painful, even when it’s genuine.

Though the album borrows from inherited language and familiar symbolism, its concerns are rooted in the present. It asks what happens when words and actions no longer match, and what follows once clarity sets in. Rather than offering resolution, ‘Rotten Fruit’ traces the gradual movement from disbelief to acceptance, and the uneasy sense of freedom that comes with it.

Headline photo: John Clemente

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