B-Side Guys

Time moves strangely inside “Lucy Hides,” warping like 16mm film left in summer heat. Th𖦹m Chapman’s latest psych-pop creation operates less like traditional song structure and more like an animated sequence—which makes perfect sense given his visual arts background and the track’s accompanying hand-drawn music video.

Chapman’s multi-instrumentalist approach pays dividends here, with each element feeling deliberately placed rather than overdubbed. The Juno synths swirl around jangly guitar work that recalls early Tame Impala without copying their homework, while the driving bassline anchors everything to prevent complete drift into ambient territory. His production choices reveal someone who understands how different frequencies interact in physical space, not just digital mixing boards.

The “cinematic, time-warped edge” isn’t marketing speak but actual sonic architecture. Chapman manipulates familiar psych-pop elements—reverb-drenched vocals, phase-shifted guitars, analog synthesizer textures—until they feel simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic. The track moves through movements rather than verses and choruses, suggesting someone more interested in creating atmosphere than radio-friendly hooks.

Chapman’s visual arts training shows most clearly in how “Lucy Hides” builds layers without creating mud. Each instrumental voice occupies distinct space while contributing to a larger picture, much like how illustration techniques layer transparent colors to create depth. The dark fairytale aesthetic he mentions becomes audible through minor key progressions that turn sweet melodies slightly sinister.

What separates “Lucy Hides” from countless other bedroom psychedelia projects is Chapman’s understanding of dynamics and restraint. Where many artists in this space pile on effects until songs collapse under their own weight, he knows when to pull back and let individual elements breathe. The result feels handcrafted rather than assembled, organic despite its obvious studio manipulation.

For an artist who’s spent years touring with established acts like Becca Mancari and opening for Brittany Howard, Chapman brings live performance sensibilities to heavily produced material. “Lucy Hides” sounds like music meant to fill rooms, not just headphones.