I Panic – (Welcome To The Night Of) Broken Promises (2023)
While I Panic began as lifelong friends coming together to create original music in 1987, it has progressed to being a one-man band that is just as amazing. The solo project (at least for now) of Dutch singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Marcel van Tetering, I Panic is an eclectic explosion of sound. Influenced and compared to the likes of David Bowie, the self-taught composer and performer has a sound that lies somewhere between glam-rock, alternative rock and art-rock; in his words, “alternative theatrical rock…with a twist”. The latest addition to I Panic’s well-received discography is the single ‘(Welcome To The Night Of) Broken Promises).
For I Panic, the lyricism of a song is as important as the melody, and we see (or rather hear) that in ‘(Welcome To The Night Of) Broken Promises’. He explains that this song “…tells the relatable story of two people meeting one more time after one of them ended the relationship and a night full of broken promises follows, doing things you told yourself you would never do again” – I am guessing it’s a case of an old flame making another appearance as you become wrapped up in a whimsical bubble of love.
Following the single ‘Lost Song’ (released in 2022), ‘(Welcome To The Night Of) Broken Promises’ is I Panic’s first single of 2023. As with ‘Lost Song’, I Panic retains his old-school glam-rock flair taking me back to the sounds of the 80s. Moreover, as with previous releases, there is a strong reminiscence of David Bowie with an eclectic obscurity flowing through the melody.
What I find intriguing is not the theatrical melody or dark lyricism, but how the darkness of the overall song so effortlessly tells the story of that night of broken promises. The bold arrangement tosses you into a sonic whirlpool falling deeper into the heart-pounding music. For me, the interspersed piano enhances that sense of soul-stirring despair albeit an exciting falling into a sonic bubble.
For more from I Panic, check out his official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
