Lauren Curtius - “Past Self”

We’ve waited eight long months for a new Lauren Curtius tune, but she’s back today with “Past Self,” a song written from the perspective of her younger self, complete with inspiration from the artists she grew up listening to.

For those of you still unfamiliar with Curtius’ music, pressing play will more than likely deliver quite the emotional, sonic experience, as she has been blessed with the ability to reveal truths like no other. And while “Past Self” does not appear to be as riddled with pain as her previous release, “Enough,” you should still brace yourself for some particularly heavy introspection.

“Past Self” begins with a hard-hitting, yet gentle rhythm that underscores a full-flavored arrangement, complete with all of the necessary ingredients to fill out the sonic landscape. We detect some keys, guitar, and even a tambourine panned distantly to the right. Curtius’ vocal is just as fantastic as we remember it to be, redolent of such artists as Dolores O'Riordan, Liz Phair, and Nina Gordon, three staples of the ‘90s music used here as inspiration.

Harmonies sweep in and out of the production, resulting in a delightfully dreamy experience. Much of this sensation is due, in part, to the rolling melody of the keys which continuously cascade their way through the arrangement, but the layers of vocals will likely be what bring you back for multiple listens, just as they’ve done for us.

Grittier and wider layers of guitar make their way into the track as “Past Self” progresses, and some of the pain that we recall from her previous release begins to sneak in: “He makes me say I want it, but he knows I don’t… He plays dumb… I don't expect to find my way out of this place… I’ve been erased.” But before this song is able to completely break your heart, you once again get lost in the vastness of its robust sound.

About “Past Self,” Curtius adds, "I wrote this song from the perspective of my younger self. I'm giving her a voice now because back then, she never got the opportunity to speak her truth or be who she really wanted to be. For inspiration on the production, I looked back to my childhood roots listening to ‘90s alternative rock albums like OK Computer by Radiohead and To The Faithful Departed by The Cranberries. It’s exactly what that kid would’ve wanted. I want to honor her and make her proud.”

-HD