Right off the bat, I need you to understand that this single from Pilothead sounds larger than life.
The 19-year-old solo artist from Wilmington, NC writes and produces all of their music themselves; the perfect formula for authentic artistry that has truly only just begun.
Know Me has the potential to be a ballad for a generation that feels so isolated, absolutely longing for genuine connection, but instead is surrounded by the pressures to conform to the collective.
The track starts and I’m instantly transported to an empty arena. I’m standing in the middle of the pit, watching someone strum an acoustic guitar, a singular spotlight illuminating the artist, and they’re singing just to me.
The “simplicity” of the acoustic guitar is made whole with Pilothead’s rich, yet intentionally anguished vocal tone. As the midway point of the song approaches, verses make their way to your ears and you’re met with the more dissonant-sounding vocal layers (a fantastic addition that makes this writer feel as though this is more of a ballad).
A little more than halfway through, the track picks up and leans heavily into rock elements, a precise and almost 90’s sounding drum kit paired with a shredding electric guitar. I could ABSOLUTELY see myself yelling the chorus with a huge group of sweaty onlookers in the pit.
Know Me is a perfect balance of heart-breaking, longing lyrics, and that cathartic rock release that we all know and love. This dichotomy of feeling the need to connect and share your authentic self but facing the backlash of judgment is nothing short of palpable while listening to this song.
As the track comes to a close, we’re gifted little unique electronic bits that add the final sprinkle of excellence to an already memorable piece. Overall, this single makes me just want more and more (and more) from Pilothead.
Written by Newt Fangs
