Grief is messy, unpredictable, and often impossible to put into words—but Downfvll has found a way. With “Hellos and Goodbyes”, the Paris-based producer and rapper Maeldan Wilmet crafts a sonic world that captures the pain of loss and the resilience it takes to keep moving forward. This isn’t just a song; it’s an emotional experience, blending dark pop, phonk, rap, and orchestral elements into something that feels both intimate and cinematic.

From the very first line—“woke up, to the sound of the phone, it’s late at night, like a quarter to four”—we’re thrown into a moment of sudden, devastating realization. The storytelling is direct yet deeply evocative, placing the listener right in the center of heartbreak. As the production swells, so does the emotional weight. Downfvll’s raw vocals cut through the ethereal, almost ghostly backdrop, making every word hit harder. The chorus, with its piercing refrain “The hellos aren’t worth the goodbyes”, is both a lament and an unfiltered reflection on the cruel nature of time and separation.

Musically, “Hellos and Goodbyes” is a masterclass in blending genres. The orchestral flourishes give it an almost gothic grandeur, while the underlying phonk beat keeps it grounded in a modern, edgy aesthetic. Downfvll’s ability to seamlessly fuse these elements creates an atmosphere that feels like it belongs in a futuristic noir film—dark, brooding, yet undeniably beautiful. His influences, from Woodkid’s cinematic orchestration to the emotional depth of NF, are present but never overshadow his unique artistic identity.

Lyrically, the song wrestles with existential questions and raw emotion. Lines like “What if I gave up and died, would the shape of your world even change a bit?” expose the darkest corners of grief—the loneliness, the self-doubt, the desperate search for meaning. Yet, rather than wallowing in despair, Downfvll channels these emotions into something transformative. “I refuse to sit on the side, I’ll become whatever you didn’t dare to be” isn’t just a lyric—it’s a declaration of survival, a promise to live on despite the pain.

What sets “Hellos and Goodbyes” apart is its ability to be both deeply personal and universally relatable. Whether you’ve lost someone, battled inner demons, or simply felt the weight of time slipping away, there’s something in this track that will speak to you. Downfvll doesn’t offer easy answers, but he gives us something just as powerful: validation. The acknowledgment that grief is real, that it hurts, but that we can find a way through it.

With “Hellos and Goodbyes”, Downfvll cements himself as an artist who isn’t afraid to confront the heaviest emotions head-on. The song is haunting, yes, but it’s also cathartic—a reminder that even in our darkest moments, music has the power to make us feel seen.