B-Side Guys

“I don’t know when I’m gone go / I’m so young, I feel so old / Hoping I can find my place before I’m leaving.” With these opening lines, Pyro immediately draws the listener into the heart of “Before I Go (Voice Note),” a raw, introspective journey that grapples with some of life’s most profound questions. Released as a live, unedited recording, the song is a testament to the power of vulnerability and the beauty that can emerge from embracing imperfection.

Pyro’s decision to share “Before I Go (Voice Note)” in its rawest form – complete with the subtle quivers and cracks in their voice – is a bold artistic choice that pays off in spades. By stripping away the polished veneer of studio production, they create a sense of intimacy and immediacy that is both disarming and deeply affecting. It’s as if we’re sitting in the room with Pyro as they pour out their heart, privy to the most private and unguarded moments of their creative process.

Lyrically, “Before I Go (Voice Note)” is a masterclass in economy and understatement. With just a few carefully chosen words, Pyro manages to evoke a sense of existential longing and emotional turmoil that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. Lines like “Running for my life, I swear I do this all the time / I wanna feel the ground beneath my feet” and “Every feeling, everybody understood / But I never could” hint at a profound sense of disconnection and alienation, a yearning for a place to call home in a world that often feels cold and unforgiving.

But even in the midst of this emotional upheaval, there are glimmers of hope and resilience. The recurring image of California – a place that exists more as a state of mind than a physical location – suggests a longing for escape and reinvention, a belief in the possibility of a better life waiting just beyond the horizon. And when Pyro sings, “I’m gone to California in my mind / I think about you all the time,” it’s a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone – that the people we love and the dreams we hold onto can serve as a beacon of light guiding us through the shadows.

Ultimately, what makes “Before I Go (Voice Note)” so powerful is its unwavering commitment to emotional truth-telling. In a world that often pressures us to present a curated, sanitized version of ourselves to the world, Pyro’s willingness to embrace their own messiness and uncertainty feels like a revolutionary act. It’s a reminder that our struggles and imperfections are not something to be ashamed of, but rather an essential part of what makes us human. With this song, Pyro has created a space for listeners to confront their own doubts and fears, to find solace in the knowledge that even in our most lost and lonely moments, we are never truly alone.