We all seek refuge in the past. Our brains are naturally hardwired to crave that warm cocoon of comfort and fond memories. And while nostalgia can be a trap, pitting our present reality against an idealized version of our former selves, it can also be a positive force we lean into for strength. This is especially true as we hurtle through whatever this media/information hellscape is. You know, the one that never, ever seems to shut off. After all, what better way to escape the relentless anxieties of modern life than to retreat into the relatively carefree bliss of youth.
The new single from Kawan Moore, a.k.a. Hommeboy, isn’t about nostalgia per se, but it leans into for inspiration. With its silky smooth production and sultry atmosphere, “I Wrote You a Song” could sit comfortably within your favorite ‘90s R&B playlist. I mean, just listen to that intro—the wavy keys and skittering snares, the “hey girl, you’ve got me feeling some kind of way” confessions. For those of us that grew up in the era, the sentimental attraction is instant. It’s a time capsule of a less chaotic time, which is partly what drew Moore to write the song.
“I mean, besides the fact that I’m a hope(ful) romantic,” he explains over email, “I’ve really been overstimulated by all the content everywhere, and all the ‘HD-ness’ of it all. So, I’ve been going back to this lo-fi analog feel from my childhood: Game Boys, talking on the phone until the wee hours of the night to your crush, burning CDs, downloading songs on LimeWire, dial-up internet. I actually recorded this song on my iPhone and with an old rotary phone—you know the ones with a cord lol. It gives it some texture.”
Listen below.
More Info
Web: hommeboyraps.univer.se
Bandcamp: hommeboy.bandcamp.com
Instagram: @homme.boy
SoundCloud: @heyhommeboy
Twitter: @heyhommeboy