Love can be great; it shines bright and has so much wonder and beauty behind it. But that’s what makes it hard. There’s a lot of pain in losing a relationship that felt so close. These 5 new songs tackle topics like breakups and situationships, and they do well at capturing the fact that there’s a harder side to loving and being loved.
LAKUN – Dimmelo
The first thing that stands out in ‘Dimmelo’ is that slappy but bundy indie guitar groove. It then pairs really nicely with full vocals that have a bit of breathiness but still have a nice snap. Then, a quick percussive beat cuts in, and it becomes an atmospheric synthy track for the chorus. This track has really nice builds and fallbacks, and every time it builds again, it seems like there’s something new. At 1:06, the vocals build into a rap with some trap influences backing. The chorus is really catchy, and the dynamic feel of the verses brings this to life more. Lyrically, this track seems to be caught in a relationship full of shifted blame, which leads to hurt. This hurt then leads to the need to move forward.
Greg DeRosa – Write and Release
‘Write and Release’ seems to follow similar themes to Dimello, in which it’s about pain in a relationship, but this one more so tackles the idea of turning that pain into art. The vocals have a really nice mix of rhythm and melody, and the pace is a really nice rush forward. Also, there’s a percussive nature to this one that extends through the guitars and vocals in the verses. Then, the chorus lets a brighter, more buzzy tone take the forefront. Vocally, this track has some amazing intrigue, with higher and lower tones and different vocal qualities. There are so many intricacies, and everything is hit with intention. Lyrically, it’s a cut toward a former partner, preying on their downfall, and an encouragement to speak out on wrongdoings.
Bella Masone – True Colors
‘True Colors’ has that synthy flow and sweet alto vocals that are reminiscent of Chappell Roan. It has a great focus on the vocals, with part of the backing music being made up of vocal harmonies in the verses. There’s a back-and-forth sway to it, and it builds a sound that’s dashed with musical emotion. This track has pop idol vibes, and it isn’t too fast or too slow. There’s some great atmosphere in the instrumentation, and though it’s a bit soft and there aren’t too many aspects, there’s still a fullness. This track is absolutely gorgeous, and it finds a way to be a piece to cry to or vibe out to. This is another post-breakup song, but it’s about seeing someone’s ‘True Colors’, and this coming to light makes it easy to leave after so much prior pain.
Astian – How
How could someone not love Astian’s new track, ‘How’? This track is another vocally driven track, with amazing vocals and a great guitar lead. This one has strong percussion in the chorus, which helps make the pacing exciting. The vocals play with a bit of a nasal tone that hits a nice, warm buzz. Also, the falsetto is really nice! This track bounces along with an optimistic vibe, but it contrasts with the lyrics. Lyrically, it’s about accepting the end of a relationship after a back-and-forth while acknowledging a want for someone to be a forever partner even though it’s over. The sound feels happy, but the words are sad, which makes a really cool dichotomy.
Lucia – Daylight
‘Daylight’ is soft and somber, with an atmosphere that sounds like stars in the night sky. The acoustic guitar gives it a raw feeling, but it’s paired well with brighter synths that trill along. When the percussion cuts in, it adds a nice bounce to things. This track is soft and a bit somber, but it doesn’t feel melancholic. The vocals benefit from crisp production, but there’s a lot of raw emotion, and it doesn’t feel overproduced. ‘Daylight’ is pretty and soft, and the lyrics have a sense of poeticism dashed with a focus on realism. It goes, “You only ever wanted me late at night. That’s why we never made it out alive.” It’s about being in a situationship with loving nights but no connection during the daytime.
Written by Sage Plapp
Cover image by Ines M.
