Nathaniel Paul – Just Memories (2022)
At some point in our lives, we all face moments of self-doubt that are the result of making bad decisions. This is something that Nathaniel Paul explores in his single ‘Just Memories’, as he reflects on the difficulties that come from decision making. Using an authentic vulnerability, he looks at past decisions that we know were bad in hindsight and the struggle many of us face moving on from the mistakes we have made.
Written during a period of self-doubt, the single perfectly captures the turbulent emotions of reflection and sets them to a lo-fi sound. After starting to release solo music in 2020, Paul has been challenging listeners to really think about what he has to say in his songs. This is something that continues with this track as he offers up his own reflections, while urging you to explore your own vulnerabilities.
‘Just Memories’ shimmers to life with electronic tones that sparkle out into the ether. There is an intimate feeling to the melody that settles around you as the vocals take a reflective turn. It is a wonderful soundscape that places you in the right frame of mind to look back on vulnerabilities and decisions you have made in the past. As you are drawn into this intimate soundscape, there is a wash of lo-fi vibes that meets a touch of surf. It is a rather mellow melody that brings a slight lethargy to your muscles, getting you to really sink into the movement. At times, there is a bubbling of sound that brings a new texture to the melody, but this seems to gently propel you further into the reflections of the lyrics.
As you sink into the melody, Paul’s vocals bring an alternative pop vibe to the single. His performance picks up the intimate feeling of the melody that has you looking inward. The lyrics help you reflect on decisions you have made and the vulnerable feelings they have left in their wake. There is a rather kaleidoscopic feeling to the vocals throughout the single as they bring a wash of colours. The floating feeling of the delivery adds to the thoughtful flow of the lyrics that explore memories and their lasting effect on us. While there is a heavy reflective feeling to the single, this is tempered with the understanding that we need to move forward through this reflection.
Nathaniel Paul has us reflecting on bad decisions and the vulnerabilities they leave in their wake through the lo-fi vibes of ‘Just Memories’. The melody has an intimate feeling that helps you absorb the reflective vibes of the vocals. While there is a contemplative feeling to the track, there is also a forward push.
Find out more about Nathaniel Paul on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
