With "CAVE," the new single by the ascendant Miami artist Simón, there is a sense of surrender to space, disorientation, and echo, as well as the impression of being lost to the world and slowly finding it all again. It's a strong opening statement from a young artist whose sound is both classic and of the moment, intimate and cinematic.
It starts in familiar territory, a spare, stripped-down ballad, bare and raw, with Simón's voice pulling you close like a whispered secret. "CAVE" isn't content with sitting around in simplicity. Its sense of heft grows as the song progresses. Starting with a quiet confession, this delicate babe morphs into a dark, haunting release guided by swelling strings, nuanced electronic elements, and a pulse that slowly comes to the surface.
Hailing from the multi-cultural crossroads of Miami and born to a musical Colombian heritage with a lineage that includes Mercedes Sosa and Segundo Cuestas on his maternal side, it is easy to see why Simón has music in his DNA. His music embodies the English and Spanish blend, with storytelling driven by emotion at the core.
Collaborating with Simón and eminent producers Jona Camacho and Alfonso Ordóñez, the progression is deliberate and masterful. The slow-burning tension of "CAVE" reflects the inner turmoil at its core, where openness meets chaos, and silence breaks into storms. It's an experience, a mood that draws you into its shadows before bursting with emotion.
Simón's clear, measured, and emotionally accurate creative voice ensures this song will not soon be forgotten. He somehow reaches to find something intensely personal and universally affecting, revealing a beautiful, warbling voice and an acute ear for arrangement and atmosphere. "CAVE" is a statement. It would not be an introduction but an announcement of what's to come. And if this debut is anything to go by, Simón is staking out his little corner.
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