B.Miles - “The Year I Felt Cool”
“The Year I Felt Cool” is a beautiful song where B.Miles attempts to capture the vibes of walking around New York City at 4am and exploring the universal theme of self-discovery. The sparse instrumentation allows the vocals to shine, delivering a reflective performance... and I do feel like this song would suit the feel of walking round the city that never sleeps.
The funky yet muted bass line provides a solid foundation for the song, continually riffing away a groove that feels like a pulse. The percussion is subtle, either a knocking kick drum of the skipping tap of a hi-hat. Warm synths and electric piano create a warm dreamy atmosphere. It perfectly suits the feel of neon lights. The clean guitar work adds a nice touch of texture to the arrangement, but as with all these elements, it never steals the show.
It is the vocal performance that truly stands out on “The Year I Felt Cool.” B.Miles' soft yet reflective delivery perfectly captures the mood of the song, inviting the listener to join her on a journey of self-discovery. The way B.Miles hits those high notes with a breathy tone is the icing on the cake. The subtle backing vocals, with the odd aid of creative effects, add an extra layer of depth to the song.
Overall, B.Miles’ “The Year I Felt Cool” is a very delicate, yet incredibly confident single. For me, it’s all about that bass line and vocal performance.