There’s nothing more refreshing than an upbeat acoustic guitar melody to open a new track. As a first-time listener of Synthetic Friend, their new song Potion Seller was a warm and inviting welcome, like a friend beckoning you into their cozy home as you leave the snowfall behind outside.
Listening to this during the holiday season just felt right and on first listen I realized how many of the lyrical/narrative pieces of this track resonated with me.
Lyrics like: “I’m my own without you / But I’m not whole without you / I’m my own without you / But I’m not home” seem to be the crux of the song’s narrative. An all too relatable sentiment.
As someone who found their partner at the ripe young age of 22, this is something I’ve noticed myself thinking about as we near 7 years of commitment. Growing up through young adulthood with someone you love can be a challenge at times, but also a magnificent and beautiful gift.
Navigating the chaotic world we live in, as well as your own mind and tendencies, is amplified by another person’s quirks. It’s sort of embarrassing to admit, but there is a part of me that freezes when my wife is out of town or away from me for “long” periods of time, like I don’t remember what it’s like to be me WITHOUT her.
It’s something I’m sure tons of people can relate to, and that’s one of the many things that make this song a new favorite of mine.
If there’s one word to describe Potion Seller, it would be “gentle”, as the artist submission mentions: “It’s a gentle song that arrives as a forceful statement of intent.” The vocals, the message, the experience; it all feels stripped back, vulnerable, and meaningful in the best possible way. It leaves space for that familiar ball of warmth to sit neatly in your abdomen as you listen.
Check out this new track by Synthetic Friend now and warm yourself up from constant exposure to the overwhelming chill in the collective air.
Written by Newt Fangs
