Wes. – Touchstone (2020)
A lot of us have people in our lives who are there because it’s convenient, but this is not always in the best interests of long-term happiness. Drawing on feelings of ambivalence and swirling internal conflict, Wes. considers this in the shimmery soundscape of ‘Touchstone’. A wonderful juxtaposition of emotions and sounds, the single has you thinking about your relationships and what you need to be happy.
The single continues to carve a space for Wes. in the musical world. Filled with his alternative pop sensibilities, it is a wonderful modern original track. Written and recorded in his home studio, he also produced the track showcasing his talents both in songwriting and production.
‘Touchstone’ draws you in with an emotional melody. The opening has a depth to the notes that has you floating on a river of music that smoothly pulls you further into the soundscape. Shimmering electronic tones lightly drip across your ears before coming into their own on the chorus. The light tones of the melody are immersive and put a smile on your face. You can’t help but get lost in the music as it gently swirls around you and pulls you into its softly shining soundscape.
While the melody offers a light and soft surface to rest on, the vocals create an interesting juxtaposition. The flow of his performance is just as soft as the melody, but the lyrics are at odds with this. They fill you with a sense of needing to let someone go wrapped in strong emotions. At times you feel the conflict of wanting someone around but needing to let them go. This twines with a sense of ambivalence toward the entire issue.
‘Touchstone’ by Wes. uses an immersive melody to swirl strong emotions around you. The light melody offers a gentle river of musical tones that you can float along. The vocals are equally soft but filled with conflicting emotions through the lyrics.
Find out more about Wes. on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
