Thilo – RUN RUN (2022)
Reaching adulthood is often seen as a goal and destination, but Thilo is taking a different approach with his EP RUN RUN. Through the tracks, he considers the journey of change, growth and progress that leads you from adolescence to adulthood. Touching on topics including reflection, romance and personal growth, he uses the concept of running to explore the different aspects of the journey.
As he embraces the unknown future, he reflects on the experiences and emotions that we run through as we journey through life. Thilo started his musical journey at the age of 6 when he joined a gospel choir and, not long after, secured a role in ‘Beauty and the Beast’. To hone his songwriting skills, he attended a songwriting camp before releasing his debut EP which received support from local and international radio stations.
The journey of the EP starts with ‘CHAMPIONS’ which uses a rather rich swell of tones to grab your attention. Thilo’s vocals bring a touch of RnB to an almost pop soundscape through the smoothness of his performance. He is able to pull you into the story of the track that delves into a reflection on life with a little touch of what could be. As the chorus hits, there is a deep beat that gets you bopping to its rhythm, bringing a new touch to the soundscape. There is an interesting mixture of smoothness and a jolting texture woven into the melody. This brings a sense of resonance to the emotions that Thilo has woven into his performance. It is a wonderful starting point for the rest of the EP.
The title track ‘RUN RUN’ has a sparkling piano line that shimmers through the opening. This drops for a truly addictive beat that hooks you to its bop before sliding into a shuffle. Through the more subdued vocal performance, Thilo takes the metaphor of running and offers a new meaning to this. Through the lyrics, he considers running toward a partner that you have never met before. There is a hopeful edge to this track as you head toward a desired encounter even though you don’t know if it is actually going to happen or when it might. As the single progresses, the music and vocals gain a rather sensual flow that has you sinking back into a warmth of what is possible and what might happen.
‘FLIGHT RISK’ takes the metaphor of running in a different direction as it touches on the idea of running away from your problems. The textured beats that fill the melody leave you on an uneven keel that wonderfully mimics the urge to run away but also knowing that you should stay to sort out the problems. Thilo’s vocals tap into this duality of emotion as he considers running and the understanding that he might be a flight risk when the tough times come. There is an unapologetic vibe to his performance, particularly on the chorus as he shrugs off what other people think about him. It is an interesting take on running from your problems and wonderfully furthers the running metaphor of the EP.
The cacophony of voices that fill the opening of ‘THE PURSUIT OF – INTERLUDE’ grabs your attention before you head into a rich vocal performance. Thilo’s performance slowly gains pace as you head through the track, but he is backed up in the opening by a wonderful choral backing. The music changes suddenly later in the track for a much softer feeling that has you floating away on its drifting musical currents. A rather short track, it acts as a wonderful break in the tale of the EP, giving you a second to breathe before you dive back into the running journey.
‘FEELINGS TO CATCH’ has a really interesting sound that starts with the electronic-tinged vocals. These vocals create an interplay with Thilo’s richer and smoother flow, putting a little smile on your face. There is a lighter and brighter feeling to this track that comes through in the vocals and the bounce of the melody. The instrumentation has a glittering tone to them as they bounce along the soundscape. That electronic vocal line also comes back throughout the single to add to the brightness of the single. Through the lyrics, you are treated to a tale of growth that carries a heavy touch of sadness which is at odds with the overall happiness of the melody. Through Thilo’s performance, you fall into the experience of running out of emotion because you feel completely drained even as things around you seem to be going well.
The EP comes to a close with ‘ONE THOUGHT OF YOU’ which brings an echoing vocal line that meets a really rich airy sound. As Thilo’s vocals hit, everything drops for a more traditional RnB flow. It is a really dynamic and richly textured track that brings the best elements of both RnB and cinematic pop. The almost stripped-back vibes of the verses rise into a rich swell of sound on the chorus. It is a fantastic movement that sweeps you up in it. This is a really polished and sophisticated track that showcases all aspects of Thilo’s musicality, from the dynamic melody, to the range of his vocals. Woven into this is a story that most people can connect to.
Thilo takes us on a rich journey through the tracks of ‘RUN RUN’ as he moves through emotional experiences, dynamic soundscapes and ranged vocal performances. Each track brings its own richness to the EP while highlighting an aspect of Thilo’s musicality. The metaphor of running is also taken in different directions through the track, while furthering our understanding of the journey of life.
