The dreampop euphoria for the summer, TUSHAR delivers “Spell”, a song to lament to while the sun goes down.
In an unusual emotional turnpoint for the Indian-Australian indie artist TUSHAR, the new single Spell (Out now on Spotify) describes the emotional journey undertaken when you witness someone you love struggle with their mental health. TUSHAR is an artist who has been bubbling in the Australian indie scene for some time now, gaining popularity through songs such as “In Our Own Backyard” and “Sadie, Why Don’t You Love Yourself”. Both of these songs are surf-indie anthems, meant to be listened to with friends on a beach. This new single does the same, however its topic is much more personal to the singer. Rather than romanticizing struggle or offering easy resolution, TUSHAR writes from the vantage point of the person who stays and absorbs the fallout of someone’s mental state without always having the language to fix what’s broken.
The relaxed chords of the guitar are met with soft and telephonic vocals, and TUSHAR is restrained in a way that serves the material well. His delivery is sincere and delicate rather than showy, favoring soft dynamics and careful phrasing over big, attention-grabbing runs. That choice gives the song a quiet universality: anyone who has stood beside someone they love through something they couldn’t fix will recognize themselves in it.
“Spell” isn’t a loud song, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s a patient, sincere piece of songwriting that trusts subtlety over spectacle, a diversion that is most welcome from TUSHAR. It’s out now on all popular music platforms. Take a listen below.
Written by Rohan Kakar
