James Bookert started San Gabriel almost by accident, playing banjo between tours with his old band Whiskey Shivers while working at a liquor store in Austin. Over the years, this project has grown into something people genuinely connect with. “Beside Me,” a collaboration with Griff Washburn of Goth Babe, marks a rawer turn for the project, which sounds more stripped down and intentional than Bookert’s usual polish.
The song doesn’t waste time setting its mood. Heavily distorted guitars open things up, followed by tight, gritty drums, immediately carrying a sense of tension from the first bar. The vocals come in airy and silky, soaked in enough reverb and delay that makes the whole ambience feel cinematic. There’s a slight crackle running through the vocals too; it sounds like it’s being picked up from a signal that keeps cutting in and out, and it gives the whole thing a strange, distant feeling, like you’re hearing someone from space, a creative twist that gives the song a more galactic pull.
I want your body
Asleep beside me
In your apartment
Cuz I lose time when
You’re beside me
And it’s a problem
The lyrics sit in that uncomfortable space of wanting someone close while knowing it’s not entirely healthy. The lyrics are honest, calling it exactly what it is, calling it “a problem” directly rather than romanticising it. Lines about words never said and messages never sent add a quiet sadness underneath all that longing, two people drifting past each other instead of actually connecting.
The arrangement moves easily between calm and intense sections, giving the song contrast without ever feeling disjointed, and that telephone-static effect on the vocals is one of the most creative touches here, intentional and well executed.
“Beside Me” is a genuinely interesting, well-crafted song, and a strong new direction for San Gabriel.
Written by Toyo Senpai
