Putting his past distresses under the microscope and combining that with an ethereal soundscape, Colcombe’s solo endeavour is the idyllic outlet for when dismalness becomes washed away in favour of a more hopeful outlook on the future.
“Better” is a warm, glimmering effort that takes a deep emotional grasp through its subdued, hazy synths drifting smoothly above Colcombe’s placid vocals and hopeful lyrics. The track treks along in a tranquil and stirring way, while an innate sense of optimism flows just under the dreamlike arrangements.
Lyrically, “Better” feels connected to an awareness of self-realisation and the idea of being ready to move on from a fractured or irreparable situation. The colourful amalgam of well-developed sonic tones channel lo-fi, experimental pop and indie-R&B, and this paired alongside authentic lyricism allows for “Better” to stand out amongst a vast arena of genre-blending artists.
“I wrote this track right after I finished uni,” Colcombe says. “All my friends were moving out or back home and I don't really do well with big changes and it was a kind of hard time on me. I wrote a few songs and this ended up being the last of the bunch. I wanted it to feel skeptically optimistic, it was like I was telling myself it was getting better, even if I didn't know it was yet.
“When I started playing this song to people it was really daunting and awkward. It was weird knowing I was basically inviting people in on stuff I never really talk about. I’m not really big on the whole ‘writing heals the soul’ type thing but when I wrote this song, it was a relief. It actually ending up helping me when I was going through a bit [of a] shit time.”
