B-Side Guys

Death rarely inspires sunshine, yet “Forever This Way” somehow transmutes existential dread into sparkling affirmation. The collaborative effort between Essex indie-pop outfit Rooskin and soul-psych project Beach for Tiger achieves something remarkable: addressing mortality while making you want to dance.

The track establishes its emotional thesis from the first notes—a celebration of present joy rather than a denial of future concerns. This philosophical premise informs every production decision, from the buoyant rhythm section to the crystalline guitar tones that cascade through the arrangement like sunlight through prism glass. The bands have found that elusive sweet spot where technical proficiency serves emotional directness rather than obscuring it.

What distinguishes “Forever This Way” from standard indie-pop fare is its tonal complexity. Despite the “poppiest single” designation, the track incorporates psychedelic flourishes and soul influences that add emotional depth without sacrificing accessibility. The vocal performance navigates this territory with remarkable assurance, conveying both carefree bliss and hard-won wisdom—often within the same phrase.

Production choices reinforce this duality throughout. The “warm synths” noted in Rooskin’s press materials are deployed with strategic restraint, creating atmospheric texture without overwhelming the organic elements. This balance mirrors the song’s thematic balance between acknowledging time’s passage and embracing immediate experience.

Particularly effective is how the arrangement builds not toward traditional crescendo but toward emotional clarity. Each instrumental element—from the “distinctive melodies” reminiscent of Real Estate to the subtle textural details that recall DIIV—contributes to a cohesive statement about finding permanence in impermanence.

The collaborative nature of this project seems to have pushed both acts beyond their individual comfort zones. While Rooskin brings their “summery sounds” and “hooky vocals,” Beach for Tiger’s soulful psychedelia adds unexpected dimensionality to what could have been merely pleasant indie pop. The result feels simultaneously effortless and considered—music that invites immediate enjoyment while rewarding deeper engagement.

“Forever This Way” demonstrates that confronting mortality needn’t be somber or pretentious. By embedding existential themes within irresistible, sun-dappled indie pop, Rooskin and Beach for Tiger have created something that functions simultaneously as thoughtful philosophy and perfect soundtrack for those fleeting moments when, as they put it, “life feels as sweet as it can be.”