B-Side Guys

Behind every great dream pop song lurks a story of ordinary magic, and SIGNAL’s origin story – three baristas and a producer discovering their collective wavelength between espresso pulls – feels almost too perfect. Their second single “Talk To You” captures that specific alchemy of newfound musical connection, when everything is still possibility and potential.

The track opens with a mantra-like reminder to “Keep it in the middle, keep it in the center,” establishing both its dreamy sonic palette and its thematic exploration of maintaining balance. Jared’s guitar work provides architectural support for these meditations, creating spaces for Audrey’s vocals to drift and settle like steam rising from a fresh cup.

What’s particularly striking about “Talk To You” is how it transmutes workplace familiarity into musical intimacy. The line “Walk in circles, talk in riddles, make it better” could describe either a busy cafe floor or the delicate dance of a new band finding its footing. Dro’s drumming maintains this careful balance, never overwhelming the gossamer-thin moments but providing enough momentum to keep things from floating away entirely.

The lyrics paint a portrait of displacement and connection, with references to trains, pavement, and a longing glance toward New York City creating a sense of geographic and emotional transit. When Audrey sings “Hate the way I look to you when I feel groundless,” it’s delivered with the kind of vulnerability that can only come from genuine trust between bandmates.

Producer Dylan deserves credit for capturing the band’s natural chemistry without overpolishing it. The production maintains the organic feel of musicians who discovered each other naturally, while still providing enough atmospheric touches to place the track firmly in dream pop territory.

The chorus’s simple declaration “I wanna talk to you” becomes increasingly poignant with each repetition, transforming from casual invitation to urgent plea. It’s the kind of phrase that might be exchanged dozens of times during a cafe shift, but here it becomes weighted with unspoken meaning.

While many bands struggle to translate their origin stories into their actual sound, SIGNAL has managed to capture something authentic about their coffee shop beginnings. There’s a warmth to “Talk To You” that feels earned rather than engineered, like the difference between artisanal brew and automatic drip.

For a sophomore single, “Talk To You” shows impressive restraint. The band resists the urge to overcomplicate their arrangement, allowing the natural chemistry between members to provide the complexity. The result is a track that feels both intentional and effortless.

As SIGNAL continues to develop their sound beyond the coffee shop walls, “Talk To You” suggests they understand something crucial about dream pop – sometimes the most affecting moments come from simply letting your guard down and seeing what happens next.