credit: Sally Clark
Hi, been a while, but it was worth it. Promise.
How many times have you been stuck wondering “How’d I get here?” or looking for validation from others? How many people think they know you enough to be the judge of your life? How many times have you punished yourself for their opinions? The answer is all yours to keep but, I will say the key is learning to look through it and ultimately, finding yourself in it. Australian r&b and hip-hop artist, William Singe, annihilated this and more in one of the most nonchalant and deserving come-backs to witness. Singe came to the spotlight on X-Factor Australia while rapping on boy band the Collective and won my heart with his eclectic collection of covers on YouTube. His ability to see r&b in everything and make even the biggest pop songs his own captivated many audiences.
Now, imagine the sweetest scent, the ultimate refined sugar, and the strongest robusta coffee bean - that’s what you’ll hear below. And that’s not counting the bass and instrumentation - just Singe’s voice. His new single “Talk to Me Nice” arranges all of the above into the most luxurious pastry. Sweet, refined, & overpowering.
When I hit play I hear: Focus on what YOU need and don't worry about others. Establish who your team is, starting with yourself. The song starts with a reassuring message from ‘Matty’ showing Will’s stout heart and drive touching on the adversities of fame and sifting through people who don’t care about the purpose. A short break is heard before a psychedelic guitar riff unwinds under Singe’s potent chorus. To introduce the first verse, a tight lock of drums and bass creating a rhythm reminiscent of Eric Bellinger’s music comes along. Not to mention, the delicately layered vocals.
credit: Sally Clark
"N I ain’t ever have to try to stand out to a fool just so I could fit in.”
Both elements continue through the song and act as the perfect complement to Singe’s lush lyricism. Maybe you, like myself, enjoy gazing at the horizon of a calm ocean. Here, every beat seems to be purposely placed to be felt as the ocean feels an expanding ripple in its body of water. You become that ocean and feel every beat taking reign of your mind and body up until the bass-heavy outro. Despite the strength portrayed in lyrics like:
“I don’t gotta hear what you saying”
“If you gon talk to me. Better talk to me nice or...”
...I can feel the inner peace resonating through the dreamy guitar melody and smooth falsetto. A true and subtle flex. The project as a whole should be seen as a reminder to not let ourselves down and remember that “could’ve been isn’t good enough.” -William Singe That serenity I speak of is one that comes from being true to yourself. The way I interpreted “Talk to Me Nice” is as a note to self (& any haters) which resulted from being lost in a dark place. We all have a downfall, whether it’s early on or later in life, it’s bound to come (some heavier than others). The beauty about it is we can come back up. But, hiding behind it, repressing emotions, is never good and Singe proves it. He’s shown us the glory in a come-back. He speaks on not needing validation from anyone and a positive change in himself - a change that comes with confidence. So...
don't forget to give yourself your place
be proud of your journey, success, & struggle
remember why you started this journey
"Talk to Me Nice" is only the start of what's sure to be a year full of notable releases. Below is the brand new music video! I can't wait to see what's next but for now, enjoy a taste of his limitless covers and past singles like the emotionally-rich "Love You Like Me".
"Ya'll in trouble now. King back baby" -William Singe