WOL – Friend That Never Was (2021)
WOL is taking listeners on a contemplative journey with his single ‘Friend That Never Was’. With a folk-tinged sound, he tackles nostalgia, loss and the relationships that never were but could have been. A rich meander down a rabbit hole of daydreams, the single brings a maturity to his sound and a melting pot soundscape.
Written and recorded during the isolated summer of 2020, the single was inspired by a brief encounter WOL had with someone who felt like a kindred spirit. As both a tribute and lament of the connection they have, WOL puts more than words can say into his sound. Since the release of his debut EP last year, he has been moving from strength to strength with this single the culmination of his honing of his skills.
‘Friend That Never Was’ opens with a unique beat that taps and claps through the soundscape. The guitar forms a floating line that leads you into the lazy reflections of the single. The melody pulls you into the slow meander of daydreams with a wonderful softness. As the single continues, a light distortion warps reality and sets you firmly in the dreamscape. The rolling drums lovingly caress your ears and light the path through the dreamscape while the synths and guitars create a dreamy kaleidoscope.
As the melody puts you firmly in the dreamscape and leads you further down the rabbit hole, the vocals call to you like lanterns lighting the path. The vocals bring a serious folk vibe to the track that wonderfully tempers the dreamy vibes of the melody. Through the vocal performance, you feel a connection with someone you have never met before. This wanders into musings about what the relationship could have been in another life. At times, the vocals have an echoing feeling like they are wisps evaporating into nothing. There is a great softness to the song that makes the contemplations and dreamy tones incredibly engaging.
WOL leads you down a dream rabbit hole to contemplate what could have been in another life through the folky dreamy tones of ‘Friend That Never Was’. As the melody opens the rabbit hole and leads you down a drum-driven path, synths and guitars swirl around you in a kaleidoscope of colours. The vocals light the way before evaporating into wisps of smoke.
Find out more about WOL on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
