Future Pretend is the new album from Ben Rice, the Brooklyn-based artist who has impressed prior with the tracks “Autumn Days” and “I Think We Got It Right.” The album tracks nicely showcase Rice’s abilities as a songwriter, melodically and stylistically. “Taste Like Sugar” shows a peppy pop-forward charm, whereas the chugging rock sound of “The Hard Road” and “American” echo a more Americana tint. The latest single, “Everything Changes” rides on a late-night synth glistening and expressive vocal lead, gearing to a memorable chorus. The verses shine with ’80s nostalgia, while the main hook exudes an anthemic allure.
“Over the past few years, I’ve seen my city and my world change so much. I’ve dealt with the loss of friends and family, gotten engaged and gotten to be a part of some amazing projects creatively. I knew these were all such significant life moments that it felt imperative that I was truly present,” Rice says. “We spend so much time mired in our memories, or fixated on a pretend version of a future reality, that we can miss out on experiencing our lives as they are happening. For me, the main concept of the record is the pursuit of being present, framed by the experiences that have taken me to this place.”
Stream the album below
Photo by Drew Reynolds
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“Everything Changes” and other memorable tracks from this month can also be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of February 2021’ Spotify playlist.
The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Indie Rock.
