B-Side Guys

Musical second-guessing rarely yields treasure. Yet Kramon’s “Crush,” released five days ago, proves that sometimes the most profound artistic discoveries emerge from completely abandoning original intentions. The track’s journey from “grungy, heavy-rock anthem” to delicate dream pop revelation mirrors the unpredictable nature of attraction itself—what we think we want transforming into something entirely more necessary.

Meredith Adelaide’s vocal performance carries the weight of this transformation. Her delivery of the central confession—”I’ve got a crush on you, now what the hell am I supposed to do?”—captures the particular helplessness that arrives when adult emotions crash into adolescent vocabulary. The phrase “crush” itself becomes loaded with new meaning, suggesting both gentle affection and devastating impact.

Isaiah Gage’s string arrangements create atmospheric pressure that makes the track feel simultaneously weightless and urgent. This production choice reflects the careful alchemy that occurred during the song’s three-year gestation period between Josh Kramon’s home studio and Shark Tank Studios in Atwater Village. The swelling orchestration supports rather than overwhelms Adelaide’s intimate lyricism, creating space for vulnerability within grandeur.

The track functions as opening statement for the forthcoming album Evolutions, a title that gains particular resonance given “Crush” own metamorphosis from heavy rock to dream pop. This artistic willingness to follow songs toward their true nature rather than forcing predetermined outcomes suggests an album that prioritizes emotional honesty over stylistic consistency.

Kramon’s production work, enhanced by contributions from Lee Pardini and Jordan Summers, creates textural richness that rewards repeated listening. Each element serves the song’s central exploration of romantic powerlessness—the strings provide emotional swell while the delicate arrangements mirror the fragility of new attraction.

“Crush” succeeds because it captures the moment when rational adult behavior collides with irrational emotional reality. Through its own evolution from aggressive rock to vulnerable pop, the track embodies the unpredictable nature of desire itself—beautiful precisely because it refuses to follow expected patterns.