Saya Gray is back with the new single, “H.B.W,” a song that feels like eavesdropping on a beautiful haunted moment. Short for “Heartbreak Wake,” “H.B.W” flits between mourning and detachment as Gray observes love melt away from a distance. It is mournful but arresting, like gazing through a rain-streaked window at city lights.
“H.B.W” is classic Saya Gray. Whisper-soft vocals hover over deep, gnashing bass and cavernous drum patterns. A push-pull effect makes you teeter comfortably between closeness and breaking out into a sweat. Delicate oscillations of acoustic piano and harp contribute to “H.B.W” dreamlike quality, luring us deeper into the intricate world Gray has been building throughout her discography.
Gray continues the thread of her signature poetic, near-surreal storytelling. “I’m an outfit you change into” echoes past thoughts on transientness, bringing to mind similar ideas on “DIPAD33/W.I.D.F.U” on QWERTY II. These subtle refrains and recurring motifs allow Gray’s music to feel less like a collection of standalone songs and more like a diary that unfolds.
“H.B.W” is another reminder that Saya Gray is haunting and grounding, wild and restrained, just the kind of sonic oxymoron that has made her one of today’s more fascinating artists.