OWBY is back with 'Closer,' a soul-piercing mix of bittersweet New Wave, early noughties R&B, electro, hip-hop, and more. It reconvenes the concept of genre as direction, as opposed to restriction. From its initial note, "Closer" bathes you in rich harmonic layers, intimately plucked notes, and a Gospel-soaked undertone, establishing a platform on which an emotional journey will unfold.
At its heart, "Closer" is a tale of love strained by hardship and love that emerged intact and more potent. That resilience is echoed in the "Closer" dynamic shape, which builds from an intimate, contemplative space into a euphoric, anthemic peak. OWBY and producer Otis Birdy deftly use this tension to their advantage. Gentle electronic textures drift on a quaking beat, as you might know from The Blaze's "BREATH," but they veer the storytelling into more lift-off territory. Where "BREATH" dwells in introspection, "Closer" comes bursting forth with hope, with the perseverance that leads to renewal.
As the production builds, so does "Closer" emotional resonance, each element building on the sense of overcoming hardships. OWBY's artistry shines in this careful balance of light and strength, making "Closer" profoundly personal and universally relatable.
"Closer" is an experience. It's a moment of reckoning, release, and revival. Whether you're seduced by the melodic hypnotism or the raw emotion that seems to vibrate through every beat, one thing's for sure. OWBY is pushing sonic frontiers, and we're all the better.