It’s inevitable that things change. It’s the natural course of life and yet our experience of these transformations – whether steady or sudden – can be uncomfortable, leaving us with many more questions than answers. Why me? Why now? Why this way? It’s this integral process of the human condition that has inspired Alex Starling‘s new solo work ‘Maybe We Lost It’.
Mid-00s indie fans like us might be familiar with Starling from the highly influential Ou Est Le Swimming Pool before its unfortunate end with the death of the lead singer Charlie Haddon in 2010. Since then, the musician has been busy with new band The Ghosts, touring extensively, and writing for other artists. His varied and rich life experiences naturally serve to flesh out his songwriting, which has no doubt allowed him to tap more deeply into relatable motivations, emotions and thought patterns as we hear in this new track.
As we’ve already alluded to, ‘Maybe We Lost It’ came about following a poignant conversation about change. From the very first lyric one becomes sentient of this provocative theme – “a little grey in your hair, enough for the both of us” – which hints at the unavoidable aging process. From there, the slow tempo, evoking the steady march of time, is formed out of spacey synths and minimalist percussion. Over this dreamy soundscape Starling‘s effervescent voice continues to ponder transformation and disillusionment. At times his words are beautifully eerie, “so you want to be somebody else?”, but elsewhere he dives into intense trips of wishful thinking.
From start to finish, this track is a cinematic wonder that explores the great expanse of the human psyche, framing familiar questions in a fresh, exciting synth-pop manner. It’s the perfect track to get lost in… especially if you’re already feeling a little lost yourself.
You can also listen to ‘Maybe We Lost It’ in our Shades of Pop playlist.
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