Lynsey Tibbs. Royston, England. Sounds like the beginning of a particularly charming British mystery novel, doesn’t it? Except instead of a whodunit, we have a what-is-it. And “Hold Me Close,” Tibbs’ new single, is most definitely a what-is-it. A delightful one, mind you.
The song, crafted with Keir More (instrumentation, structure, co-writer – hats off to collaborative synergy!), plunges you headfirst into the deep end of infatuation. It’s not just a toe-dip; it’s the full Olympic dive. Tibbs sings of that all-consuming, slightly terrifying, utterly wonderful feeling of being completely captivated. You know, the kind that makes you rearrange your sock drawer at 3 AM because… well, why not?
The genre? pop, sure, with a dusting of country… or maybe it’s the other way around? Like trying to catch smoke with a butterfly net – a futile, but beautiful endeavor.
What resonates most is the vulnerability. Tibbs doesn’t shy away from the rawness of wanting, of that aching desire for reciprocation. It’s the lyrical equivalent of sending a text message, then instantly regretting the double-blue ticks of doom… but secretly hoping for three little dots in return.
It is human desire, compressed into three-ish minutes of audio. Ever notice how pop songs never seem to go on too much about things like paying the electric bill, or how they often do cover infatuation? I mean, It isn’t exactly inventing the internet or finding the missing sock in the cosmic dryer cycle of existence. It just is. It’s that is that Tibbs and More capture so eloquently.
Tibbs’ voice dances with the hope, while her lyrics give the lyrics, structure and emotional clout.
“Hold Me Close” isn’t trying to redefine the musical landscape. But it grabs you for a tight hug and says “Isn’t existing strange and wonderful and kinda terrifying at the same time?”. It asks. Indeed.
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