B-Side Guys

Sometimes musical chemistry takes decades to reach its perfect form. On “Escape Velocity,” the latest single from Dew Claw’s forthcoming album “E.L.F.,” frontman Stephen Hunking and longtime collaborator Chris Xefos capture a rare alchemy—creating music that feels simultaneously nostalgic and vitally present.

The track’s title serves as both metaphor and mission statement. Just as a spacecraft must achieve a specific speed to break free from gravitational pull, the song explores human connections strong enough to escape life’s downward forces. When Hunking sings about making plans “so we can get away,” the lyrical simplicity carries surprising emotional weight, especially when paired with the chorus’s promise of reaching escape velocity together.

Musically, the track reveals Dew Claw’s E.L.O. influences with orchestral flourishes that expand the song’s indie rock foundation without overwhelming it. Drummer Arne Kjelsrud Mathisen’s contributions prove essential, providing both rhythmic foundation and emotional texture. The production balances clarity with warmth, allowing each musical element space while maintaining cohesion—particularly during the bridge section where instrumental layers build toward the final chorus.

What elevates this particular recording is how it transforms the isolation of modern life into a celebration of connection. The recurring lyrical motif of offering light in darkness, paired with references to the astronomical odds of existence, creates a cosmic perspective that paradoxically makes human bonds feel more significant rather than less. By the time the modified post-chorus arrives with its bittersweet acknowledgment of eventual separation, the song has earned its emotional payoff.

Dew Claw’s two-decade evolution as a project has clearly refined Hunking’s songwriting approach. “Escape Velocity” showcases a band comfortable with their influences (Hunking playfully acknowledges “stealing from the best”) while creating something unmistakably personal. Like the impossible plans referenced in the lyrics, this song charts a path forward even as the world seems increasingly chaotic—offering both escape and connection in equal measure.