Jacob Humber – Afterlife (2022)
The way we are raised can play a big role in how we interact with others and cope with our emotions. This is something Jacob Humber knows and has turned into his single ‘Afterlife’. The track looks at how we get caught in our own heads and the emotions this brings based on how we are raised. While his music touches on his own experience and feelings, he connects with anyone who feels frustrated and upset over how they have been treated before.
There is a lot of nuance in the single as it delves deep into the human condition and how we grow as people. After his life kind of fell apart when he was 19, Humber turned to music as a means of catharsis to help him work through his emotions. Since then, he has been building his musical skills and preparing for his upcoming album that offers a deep introspection that everyone can connect with.
‘Afterlife’ grabs you with some warping tones that leads you to a steady beat that pounds against your chest. There is a wonderful interplay between the strummed guitar and that steady beat that has you heading down the soundscape. As the single progresses, there is a building feeling to the melody that comes through in the increase in instrumentation. While there is this building feeling, it is contrasted by a reflective feeling that sighs into the music. The music brings a lot of emotion and different feelings to the sound. At times, you feel a sighing resignation to hearing the same thing again and again. This turns into a push against the negative feelings that come to light when you think about how badly some people have treated you in the past.
As you are led into the single by the opening melody, Humber’s vocals are soft yet carry an incredibly powerful story. Through the opening line, he reaches out for support and comfort only to be rebuffed with a careless attitude that makes you want to shut down. Through the lyrics, he brings the struggle of never being heard or properly listened to. As the chorus hits, his performance has a gentle shake of the head as he reflects on the brick wall you can face when talking to certain people. His performance is emotive as he pushes against people who think they know what is right for you while still wanting the comfort they should provide.
Jacob Humber sighs with resignation while still pushing against those who treat us badly in the gentle yet encouraging tones of ‘Afterlife’. There is a weary resignation woven into the melody of the track that contrasts the building of melodic layers. His vocals bring the struggle of emotions to life while reflecting on the lack of support that many people face.
Find out more about Jacob Humber on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
