Seattle-based artist Ai[n't Real is hitting the pop-R&B interstate hard with his latest drop "License to Drive 2025," which works as a bass-funk dance cut that explores cheeky narratives set within bright synth landscapes. This is not only a song, but an entire vibe that your summer playlist was missing.
With the very first beat, "License to Drive 2025" ushers you into a dream that combines a favorite little crush and a much-needed getaway. This song tells the tale of falling in love with your driving instructor, yeah, you heard me, and twists something so banal into a sexy daydream where the lessons get steamy and those feelings get confused. Loaded with pointed lyrics and a slick synth pop backdrop, [Ai]n't Real finds that perfect balance of desire in both filmic grandeur and the most personal sense of self.
It's one of those tracks that loses its energy and feel. From a retro cool that nods to funk, R&B, and soul as it bounces, while staying in its lane with a fresh self-aware edge. [Ai]n't Real production and lyricism are very much rooted in storytelling. The writing possesses a sort of killed-in quality even in somewhat lighter territory, which gives you the sensation that you are hearing someone's live and delightful daydream develop in real time.
Lyrics with hidden sexual undertones that she will never meet are still lovingly sung with a vocal moment and a smile. The groove is hot–a collection of glossy synth layers and bass lines that can flirt right back at you. It's groovy, it slaps, and perhaps most importantly, a welcomed idea performed in a highly fresh way.