sadboi simon - “Holding You Back”

From France, music producer and composer sadboi simon arrives on the blog with “Holding You Back,” a track from his final EP.

“Holding You Back” draws influence from the indie concoctions of acts such as Vista Kicks and Delta Spirit, fading into a lo-fi pop-rock arrangement that is filled to its brim with exciting and enticing indie sounds. The rhythm is quite upbeat for such a melancholic tune, with a double-time pulse that propels garage-rock-infused guitars above a reasonably danceable rhythm section.

Where sadboi simon excels is in his vocal delivery, which melds quite well with the modern flavor of indie rock, at times reminiscent of The Strokes, with that detached, insouciant attitude that has carved out a deep niche since the early aughts. The bounciness of the bass in the verses provides just enough of a nod to disco that it is wonderfully juxtaposed with the wall-to-wall guitars of the refrain.

Overall, “Holding You Back” offers our ears a dynamic listening experience that sounds as though it’s blasting straight from the turntable. It’s polished enough to be radio-friendly, while still clinging tightly to a DIY work ethic that completely ignores modern production tactics, which, unfortunately, is becoming harder and harder to find.

If you’ve been yearning for a raw and gritty slice of indie pop-rock, look no further than “Holding You Back,” which is now available everywhere. Connect with sadboi simon here: Spotify | Instagram | Bandcamp | Facebook | Soundcloud

-HD