B-Side Guys

In-Sides’ “Old Soul” doesn’t so much play as it seeps through the speakers, a musical fog rolling in from the Bay Area to blanket the Pacific Northwest in melancholy. Released just a month ago, this second single from their EP ‘Salvo’ serves as a time capsule of pandemic-era alienation, wrapped in layers of reverb and ennui.

Stephen Fong’s lyrics read like a diary entry from the depths of lockdown, each line a breadcrumb trail leading deeper into isolation. “Waking up is so hard / Gotta drag your feet on the pavement now” isn’t just a description; it’s a mantra for anyone who’s felt the weight of existence during these strange times. The repeated refrain of “Fall away” echoes the sensation of watching the world recede through a window, a spectator to your own life.

Musically, “Old Soul” plants its flag firmly in shoegaze territory, with guitars that shimmer and distort like heat waves off asphalt. The production, courtesy of Maryam Qudus, strikes a balance between the ethereal and the visceral, creating a sonic landscape that’s as immersive as it is unsettling. It’s the aural equivalent of trying to grasp smoke with your bare hands.

The accompanying music video, directed by Teodora Totoiu, serves as a visual counterpoint to the song’s introspection. Shots of Seattle’s public library and the Twin Peaks-famous Twede’s Cafe create a sense of place that’s both familiar and alienating, mirroring the song’s exploration of feeling out of step with one’s surroundings.

As “Old Soul” fades into memory, it leaves behind a lingering sense of disquiet. In-Sides has crafted more than just a song; they’ve created a mood piece that captures the zeitgeist of our current moment. In a world still grappling with the aftereffects of global upheaval, “Old Soul” offers a soundtrack for those moments when simply existing feels like an act of rebellion.