Sometimes to get the most out of an endeavor you need to scale back. In the case of Athens alt-rock outfit Convince the Kid, that meant shedding members and pairing down to a two-piece. The duo, consisting of Trevor Thrift (synths, vocals, programming) and Jeff Vernon (guitar, bass), first started collaborating when they crossed paths at the University of Georgia Music Business school in 2018. After getting their start as a traditional quartet, the group eventually morphed into their current iteration. The breezy new single “Let Me Down Slow” serves as their coming-out party.

With its pulsing backbeat and airy synths, the track provides an atmospheric backdrop for the pair’s warm vocals and soft-spoken harmonies. It’s an elegant cut, one that’s catchy without being cloying, finessed without seeming too meticulous. The overall vibe is laidback although you get the sense that Vernon and Thrift could unleash a big cresting chorus if they wanted to. But as Thrift points out, the intention here was to go small and get confidential.

“‘Let Me Down Slow’ is the first song Convince the Kid has tackled as a duo,” he says. “We wanted to achieve a full sound packaged in small, minimalist parts, and we pushed ourselves to keep the numbers of tracks low. This release signals a new direction for [us], one that takes a more personal, direct route to songwriting and performances in the future.”

The video plays into that unassuming aura with a mix of simple performance footage and intimate closeups. Both aurally and visually you get the sense of a band looking inward for inspiration. Although “Let Me Slow Down” billows with refined hooks and misty production, it does so with a low-key, almost DIY charm. The end result is a lilting synth-pop jam from a young group hoping to burst onto the scene.

Watch/listen above.

Convince the Kid will perform on Thu., Sept. 9 at Smith’s Olde Bar alongside Jameson Tank, Distance, and the Casters. Doors open at this 7 p.m. Admission is $12 in advance or $17 DOS. 18+ to enter. The group is also scheduled to headline the 40 Watt on Tue., Sept. 28. Details TBA.

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