Atwood artist-to-watch Adam Melchor lights a stirring fire within on “Light Year,” a dazzling duet with Lennon Stella diving deep into a vulnerable space of discord, longing, and release.
for fans of Coldplay, fun., Olivia Rodrigo
“Light Year” – Adam Melchor, Lennon Stella
It wasn’t enough for Adam Melchor to cover My Chemical Romance, release his debut “mixtape,” and sign with a major label this year – and thank god for that, because the more this Jersey-born singer/songwriter releases, the more enraptured we become. The Atwood artist-to-watch lights a stirring fire within on “Light Year,” a dazzling duet with Lennon Stella diving deep into a vulnerable space of discord, longing, and emotional release.
there are times when
it feels right to runaway, runaway
when you ask the
same old questions everyday, everyday
why do i set the stage
why do i find my place
on the pedestal
why am i dancing away
from what im supposed to say
and pretends it’s still
best that you don’t know
A beautifully cathartic upheaval revealing all those feelings we too often shield from ourselves and others, “Light Year” is as tranquilizing and wondrous as it is plain catchy. Released April 28 via Warner Records / Coquito Records, the moving duet marrying Melchor’s organic folk leanings with Lennon Stella’s breathtaking vocals (often reserved for more electronic-heavy environments) arrives in the midst of Spring’s slow transition to Summer. A small glimmer of hope has started to spread throughout this time – the twinkling relief that our part of the globe may finally be ready to safely reopen after the COVID-19 pandemic shut us down and kept us apart from our loved ones.
It’s a time of deep internal exploration as many of us look ahead, and part of that means reflecting on who were are, where we are, and what we’re doing with our lives. “Light Year” is a personal reckoning shining a hard, bittersweet light on reality:
it’s best that you don’t
i’ll just wait in the wings cuz
i don’t wanna bring it to life
that the fact is im losing my mind
oh where do i go now i feel so alone
im a lightyear away from the best days of my life
“Sometimes we put on a face when people ask how we are and we don’t tell them how we really feel because we’re afraid of the true feelings we would say out loud,” Adam Melchor tells Atwood Magazine. “‘Light Year’ is a song about feeling far from the things you love, the people you love, the place you want to be or even the emotions you strive to feel.”
i sweep feelings under the rug
my own way, my own way
i act like nothing is going wrong
and im okay, im okay, im okay
why do i set the stage
why do i find my place
on the pedestal
why am i dancing away
from what im supposed to say
and pretends its still
best that you don’t know
Together with Stella, Adam Melchor crafts a tender acoustic folk tapestry that grows into an emotive whirlwind of affective, anthemic sounds. The pair stir up poignant feelings within as they harmonize against a colorful and expansive backdrop, ebbing and flowing as wave after emotional wave comes crashing down.
Yet for as dark as “Light Year” may be, it’s also irresistibly refreshing.
The brilliance of Adam Melchor’s artistry has long been his ability to balance two sides of the same coin – whether it’s heartbreak and love, grief and hope, or intimacy and distance, he delves into the depths of human experience while still embracing the positive upsides of life. On “Light Year,” he shines brighter than ever – glowing with radiant energy while all the while he dwells in a fragile and turbulent space inside and out.
“Light Year” is what you want it to be: A somber, sad song for those who need to immerse themselves in their own emotions, a knowing hug for those in need of comfort, and a source of inspiration and rejuvenating strength for those wanting a beacon of light and possibility. No doubt this is still the beginning of what promises to be a very exciting year for Adam Melchor.
its best that you don’t
i’ll just wait in the wings cuz
i don’t wanna bring it to life
that the fact is im losing my mind
oh where do i go now i feel so alone
im a lightyear away from the best days of my life
i’m a lightyear away
oh where do i go now i feel so alone
im a lightyear away
— —
“Light Year” – Adam Melchor, Lennon Stella
— — — —
Connect to Adam Melchor on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Connect to Lennon Stella on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
? © Muriel Margaret
:: Stream Adam Melchor ::
