B-Side Guys

Five years of self-imposed creative exile has transformed Brent de la Cruz from promising streaming playlist darling into something far more substantial. The San Diego native’s focus track “TBD” from his sophomore EP “NOIR” demonstrates not just artistic evolution but complete metamorphosis—a sonic butterfly emerging from a chrysalis of deliberate isolation.

The track opens with striking imagery of mortality—a hypothetical car crash juxtaposed against romantic devotion—immediately establishing both narrative stakes and emotional urgency. This juxtaposition between life’s fragility and love’s persistence creates thematic tension that carries throughout the composition, enhanced by production choices that balance warmth and edge in equal measure.

What distinguishes de la Cruz’s approach is his architectural sensibility. As the promotional materials suggest, “if songs are rooms, Brent de la Cruz breaks down every possible wall,” creating a listening experience that feels simultaneously immersive and expansive. “TBD” exemplifies this spatial awareness, with instrumental elements positioned with cinematic precision, creating an emotional landscape where nostalgia and present urgency coexist.

The arrangement itself demonstrates how skateboard culture has influenced de la Cruz’s musical sensibilities. Much like how skateboarding transforms urban landscapes from utilitarian to expressive, his production transforms familiar dream pop elements into something more idiosyncratic. Particularly effective is how the track balances electronic textures with organic warmth, creating an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive.

When addressing feelings of helplessness while watching someone suffer, de la Cruz’s vocal delivery conveys both genuine anguish and measured restraint, suggesting influences from Frank Ocean’s emotional precision. This balance between raw feeling and careful articulation prevents the track from succumbing to melodrama while maintaining authentic emotional impact.

“TBD” serves as perfect introduction to the duality that characterizes the “NOIR” EP, while also hinting at its forthcoming companion piece, the “BLANC” EP. Without relying on simplistic light/dark contrasts, de la Cruz creates nuanced emotional terrain where, as the promotional materials aptly note, the listener ultimately determines which side of the coin lands face up.

Having garnered millions of streams without traditional industry support, de la Cruz has demonstrated how artistic integrity can sometimes be better served by strategic absence than constant presence. “TBD” stands as evidence that sometimes the most compelling musical statements emerge not from relentless output but from patient refinement.