The world is filled with tragedy– and, oftentimes, in spite of the great hurt we feel for other people’s situations, there’s not much we can do about it. So, we are forced to move on with our lives, carrying on “selfishly”. Smallpools’ newest single “Socio-Empath” is a play on this concept, telling a story about a narrator who wishes they could do more, but are relegated to telling themselves that they’ll do better next time. Although this topic can be made to be darker, “Socio-Empath” is instead a lighter, alt pop track that leans more toward living and learning, and trying to do one’s best throughout life. This means lending help when you can, but also acknowledging that there’s only so much you can do. But, maybe, you can do more another time, and help more.
“Socio-Empath” has everything I have ever wanted out of an alt pop song– so much so that I want to call it quintessential alt pop. The song begins with some percussion in an empty space, just echoing in your ears; and while the synth eventually creeps into the soundscape, all the instrumentals swell with the introduction. With that, you get this really amazing climb in energy even before the vocals begin. This energy remains fairly steady throughout the track, with the chorus being the highest point in the song. The verses are slightly slower, a more temperate atmosphere being built with the instrumentals, but are no less impactful as they work in tandem with the rest of the song. And when you add the songwriting to the mix, you’ll realize exactly how “Socio-Empath” is quintessential alt pop. The lyrics describe the narrator attempting to move past all that they cannot help, saying, “Carry on with my life / Another day, another vice / Next time promise we’ll do better”. These lines are from the chorus, illustrating a kind of consignment to the situation, but I love how, as the song continues, we get a moment where the narrator instead goes, “Wish I had the means to do that (we’ll do better) / Screw that”, as they decide that it shouldn’t have to be this way. We should be able to reach out and help others, but it’s poetic how the song still ends with the same chorus, as if nothing has really changed about how much the narrator can actually affect in their life. Both the energy and songwriting of "Socio-Empath" help to create an extremely dynamic song that will have you coming back for a re-listen, and you'll hear something new each time.
Smallpools is an indie pop band consisting of Sean Scanlon, Mike Kamerman, and Beau Kuther. The trio first made their debut in 2013 with their single “Dreaming”, which now has over 111 million streams on Spotify to date. And since then, they’ve played in major festivals such as Lollapalooza and Summerfest, performed in arenas and on late night TV, and earned RIAA gold and platinum plaques. 2013 also saw the releases of their first two EPs: “Smallpools” and “Dreaming Remix EP”. Following that in 2015 was their debut album, entitled “LOVETAP!”, which has amassed major success. Their full upcoming album "Ghost Town Road", dropping on September 20th, declares Smallpools' bold new era while also being a spiritual heir to their very first EP, a reinvention of what started it all. "Socio-Empath" is a fantastic single to lead the way to the release of "Ghost Town Road", and for all those interested, you absolutely have to give their huge discography a listen while we await the album's drop date!
Written By Alexa Leung
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