Lostchild - Being Loved When You Know You Are Not Good Enough


Buy Being Loved When You Know You Are Not Good Enough (EP) here (iTunes UK)

One of the marvels of the modern age is all the ways you can discover new music. There are Spotify recommendations, effusive gushing about acts on social media, blog posts galore and hot new talent lists a-plenty. Or, as is the case with Lostchild, it is a shared appreciation of vintage music – George Michael and Aretha Franklin’s I Knew You Were Waiting (still solid pop gold). That, combined with the fact that he pulls of the t-shirt and braces look mightily well, led me to check out his new EP Being Loved When You Know You’re Not Good Enough. The title alone was enough to pique my interest – I’ve always struggled with self-esteem issues. I have to mentally prepare for social situations with new people. I’m extremely anxious when out of my comfort zone. It’s a hidden crippling fear that threatens to dominate every second of life. Coping mechanisms help – and Lostchild beautifully and eloquently explores these issues across the four songs on the EP. Don’t think for one moment, however, that this a collection of melancholy songs – far from it. Lostchild infuses his music with a vibrant 80s pop sound that sparkles like the brightest star in the firmament. It remains a radiant era of music that has never really left us – and, quite rightly, influences some of my favourite artists today (Bright Light Bright Light, Omar Afuni, Carly Rae Jepsen, Years & Years, et al). Lostchild joins this luminary group of singers, enchanting with his poetic lyricism and ability to craft memorable, lasting hooks.

The EP opens with the effervescent Lifeline - a song that instantly hooks the listener in with So Emotional style realness. Buoyant synth riffs dance seamlessly alongside a percolating percussion and cascading chime effects that cocoon themselves around an emotive vocal performance from Lostchild. The song is all about clinging to one final hope that things will get better, that slither of optimism that human spirit clings to when times are bleak. "Wait for the perfect life/Been waiting for it all my life" sings Lostchild with a vibrant urgency that is utterly compelling. By swathing the song in such a vivid, propulsive groove it really helps uplift that aura of possibility that permeates the song. It feels like this intoxicating score is the coping mechanism that Lostboy uses to cope with his own anxieties and insecurities - that the shimmering music gives him the strength to sing the personal and insightful lyrics. In that context, it is one of the most euphoric songs I've heard in ages. It feels like it should be nestled at the top of our charts - and the same could easily be said of the EP's lead single, Town. It is a more sparse production but no less satisfying - in fact, the icy cool nature of the instrumental only serves to accentuate the intimate nature of the words Lostchild sings. The intensity of his yearning desire for his own journey of discovery bleeds through every nuanced word he delivers, perfectly articulating that need to follow your dream even when you are not entirely sure what that dream should be. It is this expressive way of verbalising these universal themes that makes the listener fall so hard for his songs. The music becomes an epiphany and you can't understand why you haven't been able to explain it that way yourself. The fact that it is wrapped in mesmerising singing and swirling, addictive sounds is just the icing on the already delicious cake.

The EP continues with Blind. It is another uptempo, ravishing pop nugget that adds an element of 90s house-pop vibe to the mix (think the best single Cathy Dennis never released). Lostchild sings of that uncertainty in a relationship when you submit to your fears and can't seem to find the best way forward. He explains this with such earnest honesty during the verses that you are instantly emphatically empathetic towards his plight, rooting for him to gain trust and perspective to get back on track again. Punctuated synth chords seemingly mirror his uncertainty whilst a crescendo of electro-effects urge him - and the song - forwards into the explosive, joyful chorus. A tambourine beat ushers you into a rapid-fire refrain that is positively anthemic - "live for the night" he proclaims and you are helpless and entirely unwilling to disagree. I love the juxtaposition between trepidation and hope in both his music and lyrics. This continues on the final track, S.A.M. Effervescent chimes and a finger click beat take you back to the halcyon days of when you were waiting for a star to fall. It is an elegantly constructed piece of art all about the memories that permeate in our brains - bought to life by images and sounds that take us back to times gone by. Lostchild has demonstrated across the EP that introspection and personal exploration can yield magnificent results - S.A.M is an excellent song to round out this gorgeous project; a cathartic finale that is just as liberating for the listener as it appears to be for the singer. I remain in awe and can't wait to explore more music from this talented chap.

Top 25 songs of the week:

25 ~ Jakil, Truth Is
24 ~ Louisa Johnson, So Good
23 ~ Paul Varney, Kiss and Make Up
22 ~ Robbie Williams, Party Like A Russian
21 ~ Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Crystallise
20 ~ Roxette, Why Don't You Bring Me Flowers?
19 ~ Deacon Blue, This Is A Love Song (NE)
18 ~ Daniel Powter, Delicious (NE)
17 ~ Bright Light x2, Little Bit
16 ~ X&Y, Secrets
15 ~ DNCE, Body Moves
14 ~ Pet Shop Boys, Say It To Me
13 ~ Little Mix, Touch
12 ~ Jakil, Unforgiven
11 ~ Maroon 5, Don't Wanna Know
10 ~ Vaults, One Day I'll Fly Away
09 ~ Harriet, Beauty and The Beast (NE)
08 ~ Kylie Minogue, Everybody's Free
07 ~ Fitz & The Tantrums, Roll Up
06 ~ Tom Chaplin, Hardened Heart
05 ~ Michael Buble, I Believe In You
04 ~ Mans Zelmerlow, Glorious
03 ~ Olly Murs, Years and Years
02 ~ Robbie Williams, Love My Life
01 ~ Smith & Thell, Statue (NE) (1 week)

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