Dad With Kids – Roman (2024)
The alter ego of singer-songwriter Yvan Cusumano, Dad With Kids blends aspects of retro and contemporary folk in his moving melodies. From modern-day indie-folk to vintage folk, tinged by hints of power pop, the France-based musician’s style is charming, elegant, soft and soothing. Interestingly, just as his tunes a mellifluous and calm, there is a forcefulness breaking through in the powerful but wholesome singles. Join us as we sway along to the infectious song ‘Roman’.
The fifth single to be released in 2024, ‘Roman’ follows the critically acclaimed tracks ‘And Everything Is Background Noise’, ‘Soft Focus’, ‘My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me’ and ‘OK’. One aspect I find intriguing is how each single retains the underlying folk style but is distinct within various genres. Unlike ‘Soft Focus’ with its fluttering of indie-pop, Dad With Kids taps into his inner Paul McCartney with ‘Roman’. Slivers of old-school Beatles catch with Wings before laid bare in a flood of contemporary indie-folk.
Despite having several releases to his name, this is my introduction to Dad With Kids. Truthfully, I am disappointed but not in his music rather that it took me so long to discover his music. Self-composed, penned, recorded and produced, ‘Roman’ is a labour of love oozing sophisticated elegance; however, raw vulnerability hangs in the track delicately evoking a sense of raw naivety amidst its maturity. A combination of acoustic guitar, bass, drums and synths, Dad With Kids finds the line between organic and synthetic sounds and then blurs it with a swift flick.
The melody is hypnotic having you sway in time to the tune; however, just as it is pleasingly warm and tender, that raw vulnerability aligns with the brutal honesty of its profound lyricism. Dad With Kids notes that ‘Roman’ is a song “…about a guy called Roman who was at the top but lost everything…”, and it is this exploration of loss, frustration, despair and hopelessness atop a jovial tune that makes Dad With Kids a fascinating songwriter and storyteller.
Find out more about Dad With Kids on his Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more indie-folk songs on The Other Side Reviews Indie Folk playlist:
