It can be hard when you realize you’re in a relationship that is fizzling out. You notice the other person pulling away and you don’t know how to fix it. Barrett Crake is a man desperate to revive a dying relationship in his new song, ‘50%’. He notices the growing distance between himself and his partner. This song is his plea to try and be what that other person needs. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to try and save the love that they’ve created. The only thing he asks from his partner is that they try and meet him halfway.
In the first seconds of the song, a repeating guitar line is introduced with an echoed voice layered overtop. These elements create a sense of longing that is felt throughout the song. When Crake’s lyrics come in, this longing is accompanied by an urgency that starts to grow. Strong percussive beats accompany the lyrics, driving the tempo, and aiding to the intensity of Crake’s emotions. During the verses, these beats work to create a pace that amplifies Crake’s feelings of longing. When the song crescendos into the chorus, the beats intensify, bringing his urgency to the forefront. The last lyrics of the first verse, “Can’t you see, I’m on my knees, try to meet me, halfway”, set this pace that then explodes as the listener is brought into the chorus. As I was listening, I thought of the verses as a walk to contemplate your thoughts and feelings, and the chorus as an urgent sprint to your partner.
Barrett Crake is an electro-pop artist who is the epitome of what a modern artist can be. He has taken advantage of the online digital landscape to create an international set of collaborators. The American artist has created partnerships with producers in cities such as Amsterdam and Berlin, all while being fully independent. Crake’s background in film allows him to create beautiful videos that tell the stories of every track he writes. In 2017, Crake had one of his biggest opportunities in creating a remix of the Corona hit “Rhythm of the Night”. The track currently has over 2.3 million streams on Spotify. Through his music, Crake hopes that people can relate to and find hope in his lyrics. ‘50%’ is out now!
Written By Maddy Mahady
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