There are a few song concepts that still surprise us at this point. Countless tracks have crossed our path, with themes like love, heartbreak, loss, grief, inspiration, joy, and many more emotions and experiences. Just when we think we’ve heard it all, Solar Bloom (aka Matt DeVoti) tips our world upside down with their perspective-shifting new single ‘This Tiny World’. Upon first listening to this dreamy, synth-propelled indie track, it’s easy to assume that it’s a classic love song. The sincere and unbridled lyrics are brimming with feelings of love and connection. However, that’s where your assumptions might well be wrong.
Here to enlighten us is the New Jersey based singer, songwriter and producer Solar Bloom, who shares that, “The idea came while I was sitting with my cat thinking, ‘I feel like I understand this little creature so well but how can that be when we don’t even speak the same language?’ It led me to think about how much communication is done non-verbally not just between me and my cat but between me and others as well. I explored this idea in This Tiny World by using the imagery of a cat talking to its owner to illustrate the ways people express affection for each other without using words. My cat Max is essentially an inspiration for the song.”
With this integral insight, our listening to ‘This Tiny World’ has been entirely transformed. The narrator’s (aka Max the cat) sentiments of following where their beloved human goes and the fact that their world is comparatively small to ours becomes so heartwarming. The anthropomorphized voice of the artist’s pet is also brought to life by the playful and spacey production. Blissful vocals reverberate out onto a landscape of noodling strings and steady percussion, reflecting Max’s stable and secure home life. Elsewhere, the rapid-fire synths could replicate the pitter-patter of paws and the soaring guitar riffs might just well be an attention-seeking meow. Part of the fun with this track is definitely piecing together these clues to our furry friend’s inner world.
Beyond this uplifting story of animal-human companionship, ‘This Tiny World’ is a brilliant showcase of DeVoti‘s multi-faceted skills. He first began with a digitally-made demo and home-recorded vocals. He then sent it over to fellow producer Joey Papa who re-amped the guitars, recorded live drums, and added his own finesse. The track got its final master from Grammy-nominated engineer Joe Lambert.
‘This Tiny World’ has brought us so much joy this week and you can also listen to it in our Shades of Pop and Outsiders Club playlists.
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