Francisco Sola - “Seasick”
Everyone’s favorite Buenos Aires-based singer-songwriter, Francisco Sola, is back on the blog with his new future hit: “Seasick.”
We first fell in love with Sola’s sound about a year ago, when we heard his ethereally and folksy masterpiece, “I’ll Be Gone,” a song that we still play on a daily basis, especially on those long commutes. But today, he shows us a different side of his art, as “Seasick” begins to lean into the genre of indie rock, a signal that he refuses to pigeonhole himself into a specific genre. This transition in style is slight, but it’s a transition nonetheless, and we cannot help but anticipate what the rest of his upcoming album will behold.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let us tell you all about “Seasick,” a track that will draw you in as soon as you press play. For the intro, Sola has utilized a lo-fi production on the hook, effectively showing his softer side with nothing more than an acoustic guitar to accompany his vocal. This is the Sola that we all know and love and it’s not until about thirty seconds into the song that he shifts gears, adding a full-band arrangement with a sure and steady rhythm. The soundscape widens and we hear elements that are slightly reminiscent of Jeff Buckley within his vocal. In a word, it is heavenly.
Atop of the acoustic, there is some wonderfully placed ear candy from an electric guitar during the verses, ensuring that all listeners remain engaged with the track. When it comes back around to the hook, these sounds help to elevate every last bit of the chorus, causing an ear-worm effect that will have you humming it for the remainder of the day. Highlights, for us, are when Sola effortlessly breaks into his falsetto for certain words and phrases, a tactic which led his music to our ears in the first place.
“Seasick” becomes more intense as it progresses, incorporating some tasteful fuzz and moments of syncopated riffing. It’s a side of Sola’s writing that we never thought we’d hear, but now all we can do is want more of it.
-HD