Sea Lemon - “Breakdown” (ft. Day Wave)

Photo by Eleanor Petry

With the release of her most recent EP, Stop At Nothing, Natalie Lew, aka Sea Lemon, takes listeners on a thrilling musical journey. The final single from the EP, “Breakdown” is a collaboration with Oakland-based Day Wave and full of haunting dreaminess and hazy introspection. 

The listener is immediately engulfed in a calm and tranquil atmosphere as the music starts with the song’s gorgeous chorus. The drums set a slow pulse as gentle fuzzy guitar pads the arrangement. Jangly guitar subtly accents the melody and bass sets a warm foundation. “Breakdown“ has some wonderful contrasts. The verses are stripped back, allowing guitar arpeggios to dreamily meander as the vocals take center stage. The drums fall back to the bare essentials in order to provide momentum and as the hazy chorus sections hit, there is a pleasing ebb and flow to this song.

Another great contrast is the reverb-soaked vocals that dancing in harmony. Sea Lemon and Day Wave take turns in fleshing out the lyrical story of the song catering to both the higher and lower vocal registers. The artist says: “Breakdown“ was written by Day Wave and myself on the first day we starting recording together. It came out pretty naturally, especially lyrically. The song is a campy story, all about the aftermath after being wronged by someone where you’re trying to figure out if you should forgive and forget or seek revenge.”

The song’s brief guitar solos punctuate this story with their hazy, mellow, and introspective tones. They also give a sense of melancholy to the arrangement. Sea Lemon has given us another classic shoegaze song with “Breakdown.” The track is filled with dreamy textures and contrasts whilst lending a satisfying sense of melancholy underneath. You will not find it difficult to get lost in the introspective tones.

Sea Lemon’s new EP, Stop At Nothing, is now available everywhere:

-John Michie