The Singles Bar: ayokay extends shoulder to cry on with ‘Swing Swing’
The sprightly creator continues his gleaming brand of synth-pop.
Welcome to The Singles Bar, a review series focused on new single and song releases.
We spend our lives trying to be perfect, what with social media creating illusions of truth and grandeur, and it is downright exhausting. We can take the punches and right-left hooks on our own, or we could lean on someone to assist. Electro-pop creator ayokay (real name Alex O’Neill) extends his warmly-cupped, porcelain hands with his new single “Swing Swing,” a glassy mid-tempo that’s both soothing and somber. “Swing swing when you’re hurting,” he presses on the opening stanza, situating his voice between oscillating flames of gassy synths and punchy percussion. “Say what you want to for once / Say what you mean / ‘Cause you’re trying to be perfect / But now it’s time to be free,” he affirms later on, urging the listener to come forward with their own tales of sadness.
“Swing Swing” is deceivingly gloomy, decorated with silky production and a calming embrace. He explains of the song, “‘Swing Swing’ is the most personal song I’ve ever made. It was written, produced and performed by me in its entirety. I have always been very inspired by indie bands and wanted to bring some of those influences, including upbeat electric guitar and retro analog synths, into my style of electronic production.” O’Neill struck it big in the public consciousness with 2016’s “Kings of Summer,” an oceanic envelopment of chilled synth-pop reflecting off a pool of swampy R&B, a track which now has more than 42 million Spotify spins.
“Swing Swing,” building off his chewy, addictive aesthetic, bubbles in his eyes and ultimately erupts in ostentatious glory ⎯⎯ sampling a forthcoming project, expected later this year.
Listen below:
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