We Speak Music
DILAN SKIES’ New Single ‘Leave It All Behind’ – A Nostalgic Yet Fresh Blend of Pop and R&B
DILAN SKIES’ latest single, ‘Leave It All Behind,’ is a captivating blend of Pop and R&B, steeped in a warm sense of nostalgia. This track, a prelude to his anticipated debut album, firmly positions Skies as an emerging talent in the music scene, with a unique ability to merge the old with the new, crafting a sound that is both innovative and comfortingly familiar.
The track opens with a pulsating bassline that immediately sets a reflective and introspective tone. The warm, low frequencies create a sense of intimacy, drawing the listener into the world Skies is creating. As the song progresses, subtle layers of atmospheric synths are introduced, adding a lush, almost ethereal quality to the production. These elements work together to create a backdrop that is both rich and inviting, perfectly complementing the themes of the song.
One of the standout features of ‘Leave It All Behind’ is Skies’ vocal performance. His delivery is smooth and intimate, with a sincerity that makes each lyric feel personal and relatable. Skies’ voice effortlessly glides over the melody, showcasing his impressive range and control. His use of rhythmic phrasing, coupled with nuanced falsettos, adds a contemporary edge to the track. This is particularly noteworthy as it nods to the early 2000s influences that clearly shaped Skies’ musical identity, yet it never feels derivative.
The production of ‘Leave It All Behind’ is meticulously crafted, striking a delicate balance between modernity and familiarity. The percussion is crisp yet understated, providing a steady foundation without overpowering the more melodic elements of the track. This allows the soulful guitar riffs to shine, adding depth and warmth to the arrangement. The harmonies are equally well-executed, weaving together to create a delicate sonic tapestry that enhances the emotional weight of the lyrics.
What sets this track apart is the dynamic interplay between its minimalistic verses and the more expansive chorus. The verses are restrained, allowing Skies’ vocals and the underlying instrumentation to breathe, creating a sense of tension. This tension is released in the chorus, which swells with emotion, evoking a sense of longing and catharsis that is both powerful and moving.
‘Leave It All Behind’ is a testament to DILAN SKIES’ talent and potential. It’s a track that feels simultaneously fresh and nostalgic, a rare and difficult balance to strike. As he gears up for his debut album, this single serves as a strong indicator of the artistry and skill that will undoubtedly propel him to greater heights. With this release, DILAN SKIES establishes himself as a rising star in the music world, one whose journey will be well worth following.
In “You Never Do Shit,” Brooklyn’s Dead Tooth deliver a snarling, urgent post-punk single that distills their barbed energy into under four minutes of sharp-tongued wit and scuffed-up sonics. It’s a track that bristles with disdain—Zach Ellis’ vocal delivery is acidic, at times theatrical, and often more spoken than sung. There’s a punk rock immediacy here, but with the knowing wink of someone who’s watched the scene curdle and still wants to dance through the ashes.
The song began its life in a different medium—written for a fictional band on City on Fire—but the real-life iteration carries more weight. There’s a palpable satisfaction in Ellis’ decision to reclaim it, and that freedom seeps into every detail: the unkempt rhythm section, the jarring saxophone lines from John Stanesco, and the deliberate looseness that characterizes its structure.
Dead Tooth are at once participants and commentators in the culture they inhabit. Their songs are alive with noise, but also with intent—tracking the psychic hangover of nightlife, subcultural collapse, and underground scenes that burn bright and disappear too soon. Ellis’ lyrical observations land like tossed-off critiques, but underneath the smirk is something deeper, almost desperate: a desire for connection, even through chaos.
With their debut album looming, “You Never Do Shit” feels like a thesis statement. Not just of sound, but of ethos: reject slickness, embrace noise, tell the truth—even if it’s ugly. In a year when punk has mostly whispered or wandered, Dead Tooth has chosen to scream.
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