With the release of “ONE LIFE,” Lennon Cripe is giving listeners a genre all his own. Teaming up with Dylan Cotrone, the Florida-Chile native gives us Gulf Pop at its most potent, melding sun-soaked reggae grooves, alt-rock grit, and pop gloss into a song that’s as old as the freaking ocean but still feels new.
From the opening notes, “ONE LIFE” sounds like a postcard from a world of lapping ocean and a midnight speedway. Lennon Cripe comes from a rich musical background, being raised between the warm coasts of Bradenton, Florida, and the vibrant energy of Viña Del Mar, Chile. It’s this clash of cultures that drives his signature sound. With a father who vibed to roots reggae and a mother who blasted ’90s grunge and punk, Cripe grew up at the crossroads of rhythm and rebellion. And you can feel it all in this track.
“ONE LIFE” glides over a steady but froggy rhythm, propelled by bright guitar riffs and bouncy percussion that hints at reggae without shackling itself to it. Lennon’s vocals fall somewhere between pensive and primal, beckoning listeners into his magnetic sincerity. Then there’s Dylan Cotrone, the ideal complement. His voice, lush and expressive, doesn’t just entwine with Lennon’s; it imbues the song with a stabilizing heft. They trade verses and melodies in a chemistry that feels comfortable, like old friends finishing each other’s musical sentences.
In lyrical form, the song is an earnest reflection on connection, resilience, and, yes, squeezing the most out of the one life we have. It is introspective without being weighty and uplifting without resorting to tropes. “ONE LIFE” is how I want to read the world and see my soul without preaching to it, reminding us that we’re not alone in our struggle or who we dare dream to be.
For those new to Lennon Cripe, this song is the perfect introduction. And for the fans who have tracked his progress through the early days, “ONE LIFE” is the point where it all snaps into focus. And, alongside Dylan Cotrone and Gulf Pop at the helm, Cripe is making wave “ONE LIFE” streams in theaters everywhere. This is your official invitation to hit play and live a little louder.