KEWL HAZE’s recent single "Used to Have It All" is a lustrous reminder of exactly why fans are thirsting for more from this bi-coastal duo. As the first song they wrote collaboratively in person after a cross-country odyssey, the track plays like a joyous reunion between fellow creative spirits, with every facet glistening with potential and playfulness.
The song promised something homey and offbeat, with its lo-fi origins. But the early sparks have since fully ignited into a shiny new piece of modern psych-pop that recalls Tame Impala, MGMT, and even The Flaming Lips. The punchy drum roll moves the rhythm on, making space for the fun slap bass that holds everything up high. Floating through the mix are woozy analog synths, layered dreamily on top of one another to create a thoughtful and fresh kaleidoscopic sound.
What really sets "Used to Have It All" apart is its successful balancing of intrigue with an overall irresistible quality. Songwriting from KEWL HAZE finds a bittersweet contemplation of what was lost, in sombre lyricism backed by anthemic pop. It’s a track that, well, keeps on giving, allowing its listeners to sink further into each layer and find new textures beneath the slight glimmer of a synth line here, or the snap of a drum hit there.
"Used to Have It All" is more than a soulful single, it’s an ode to chemistry and exploration, and the sustained power of collaboration. For old and new fans alike, the duo's shows with KEWL HAZE show that their sound is kaleidoscopic and uniquely theirs.