B-Side Guys

There’s an art to ending things well. On “SYD,” Pale Grey chronicles the moment a performer chooses extinction over slow fade, turning what could be a simple retirement ballad into an exploration of how brightly stars burn in their final moments. Following their track “EVE” and working with producer Ash Workman (Metronomy, Christine and the Queens), the Belgian outfit has created something that feels less like retirement and more like transcendence.

The verses descend into exhaustion with confessions like “I give up with the microphone / Time’s running out,” while painting a portrait of an artist seeking escape through elevation: “Help me drown like an old boat / or dive in the clouds.” This tension between sinking and soaring creates the song’s emotional core, each line delivered with the weighted grace of someone who’s made peace with their decision.

The production mirrors this duality, with somber verses giving way to choruses that burst with unexpected light. When the lyrics plead “Don’t look at the moon / Don’t look at the night,” the instrumentation suggests dawn breaking through darkness. The repeated assertion “There will always be a star to shine / when I will be done” transforms from reassurance into prophecy.

Working with Workman has given Pale Grey’s signature indie pop an enhanced atmospheric depth, perfectly serving a narrative about choosing when to exit the spotlight. “SYD” suggests that sometimes the most luminous moments come not from chasing the light, but from learning when to step away from it.