boywithahalo – summer we never had (2021)
Shining a light on the realities of Gen-Z and Millenials in the 21st century, boywithahalo is an insightful indie-pop artist sharing his obscure sound with the world. The brainchild of musician, graphics and fashion designer, and content creator JZ, boywithahalo encourages self-expression with his various songs. Featured on Right Chord Music, Fruit Sonic, Mystic Sons, XXL Magazine and several playlists, the Asian-American artist is turning heads across the globe. The latest addition to his repertoire is the single ‘summer we never had’.
Compared with the likes of Metric and Slowdive, US-based boywithahalo effortlessly melds genres showing he is not to be pigeon-holed. As part of his campaign to release several singles with similar genres but individual identities, boywithahalo is eager to reach audiences across the board. Following the well-received ’16 years’ and ‘oxygen’, ‘summer we never had’ is filled with lo-fi synths layered with hazy vocals. Teetering on dream-pop, this new single tosses you into a hazy swirl of sound with its cinematic soundscape.
While ‘summer we never had’ has a fuzziness with the synth-based instrumentation, there is a steady drum that acts as a foundation for a grunge-influenced design. What I find particularly intriguing about the track is the execution of lyricism. With a haunting tone, the wistful vocals add a flowing harmony to the melody. Yet, there is a section where boywithahalo has an abrupt hip-hop type rapping that is both unusual but also apt in the song. boywithahalo is all about evocative self-expression and the show of angst is perfect in a track about experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Innovative and eclectic, ‘summer we never had’ is the sonic representation of confusion, angst, inner turmoil and frustration. The thing is, while the ethereal track has a painful desperation, it exudes a genuine sincerity and sentimentality engaging with listeners on a personal level.
For more from boywithahalo check out his official website, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
