Out today from Nathaniel Paul, the track “Turpentine” enamors with its suave, chilled-out rock sound. The Brooklyn-based artist delivers mellow vocals alongside smooth guitar licks and soulful rhythm section, establishing an utterly hypnotic soundscape. “Turpentine” aims to “take a look at what we are going through as a culture,” the opening lyrics echoing “the state of homogeneity that has been created through the overconsumption of news, social media, and the internet at large.” “Take me off that assembly line,” Paul opens into lush guitar tones, with hints of jazz and blues. The recurring “so I can dream of a better life,” hook entrances, signaling a perkier guitar flow amidst Paul’s melodic vocal presence.
“I almost died shooting this video,” Paul says. “I thought it wasn’t going to be all that bad. But when you’re actually hanging upside down, it really gives you tunnel vision,” he laughs. “But honestly, we live in a world of chemicals and things trying to kill us all the time, I thought this was the perfect way to convey the message of the song.”
Look for Nathaniel Paul’s sophomore album, out this summer.
—
This track and others featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of January 2022’ Spotify playlist.
