3 Little Wolves – Torch Song (2022)
While there are a lot of songs out there about unrequited love, 3 Little Wolves are adding their own unique spin to things with ‘Torch Song’. Drawing on the influence of classic love songs, the single uses sweeping strings and chiming guitars to build a well of emotion in your chest. Through the track, they capture the emotions of feeling for someone in a way they don’t reciprocate and the silent resignation that follows the knowledge that you will never be together.
A stylistic and genre jump from their previous releases, the single not only highlights their emotive prowess, but also the fact that they are a band that can’t be pigeonholed. After playing in various bands, Paul (vocals, guitar), Corrinne (keyboards, samples), Leong (guitar), Dale (bass) and Khay (drums) formed this band to unleash something a little different into the world. Since then, they have quickly gained a serious following playing sold-out gigs in both Birmingham and Glasgow, while making appearances on TV and at festivals.
‘Torch Song’ slowly opens with a really tender feeling that bursts with an explosion of colours into a movement that is a little more melancholic. This opening movement is utter perfection as it captures the bliss and happiness of affection, only for everything to take a sadder turn when you realise your feelings are not returned. There is a sweeping romanticism to the melody that comes through the chiming guitar notes and the soothing keyboard line. This all swirls together with the vocals for an emotive tug on your heartstrings that is all heartbreak and depressed resignation. As the single progresses, the melody retains a sprinkling of affection while the lower levels sink into a knowledge that what you want can never be. The emotions border on bittersweet as you feel that joy and pain of unrequited love, yet still understand that you might be better for having felt all of the nuanced emotions.
While the melody is slowly packing your chest with melancholy and glittering happiness, the vocals glide over your skin with a beautiful gentleness. The slightly hazy vocals draw you into the opening verse with a blossoming of affection. It is like the vocals turn a greyscale world to colour as you start to fall in love. These colours lose some of their vibrancy as you head into the chorus and the realisation that your feelings aren’t returned. While muted, the vocals enhance the emotions introduced by the melody, leaving you longing for the other person to notice you, but knowing that this will not happen or change anything.
Melancholic, bittersweet yet beautifully touching, ‘Torch Song’ by 3 Little Wolves is a stunning look at unrequited love, packed with vibrant colours and delicate melodics. Through the single, the band tugs at your emotions as they move from a potential romantic connection to the knowledge of unreturned feelings. The emotive movement is delicately handled and masterfully infused into the arrangement of the track.
Find out more about 3 Little Wolves on their Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
