Mysterious solo artist Sleephawk stuns on lucid debut "Malibu"
Restrained and artfully composed, the London-bred writer channels the likes of Alt-J and indie-pop sentimentalities of Westerman into a multi-layered concoction that exists harmoniously between the two.
Introduced by urgent plucks and steady beats, the vocal of Matt Wright – the man behind the moniker – belies a restless unease. “Scroll hypnosis, scroll hypnosis won us all,” intones Wright in a voice not uncanny to that of The Maccabees’ Orlando Weeks. “Can’t get caught up in the beauty show, I’ll start resenting everyone I know.”
Remarking upon a lost relationship, the track touches upon the negativities of social media and how its omnipresence and addictive usage can have a detrimental effect on one’s mental health. Fittingly, "Malibu"'s cyclical refrain and intensifying instrumentation perfectly mimics the hubbub of FOMO and online anxiety.
“Social media is laid out as a highlight reel to show others you’re winning at life,” explains Wright of the inspiration for the track. “The song is about losing someone but still being in their social media circles, unable to escape this perfect version of them.”
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