Richard Orofino - “I Hope So”
“I Hope So” is a gorgeously compelling bedroom lo-fi pop piece by American musician Richard Orofino. Full of dreamy textures and introspective undercurrents, the song can only be described as a modern psychedelic trip.
Foley noises open the track, softly laying the foundation for a tapestry of melodic lo-fi textures. Acoustic guitars weave exquisite melodies and grooves, which form the backbone to this song. They give a warm and mellow vibe. Unusual synth textures pad the arrangement. It seems as though they have been coated in a healthy dose of tape effects, whilst a solid, weighty kick drum propels the song forward.
What I love about “I Hope So” is the continually changing and developing musical landscape. The track builds dynamically to a head bopping groove. As the excitement peeks, the layers thin down, providing an ebb and flow that is addictively satisfying.
With sweet falsetto tones Orofino’s vocal gives the song an otherworldly and slightly hallucinogenic warped feel. The vocals were recorded at half speed then sped up to give them their quirky tone. Beatles producer George Martin would be nodding with approval up in heaven, despite George Harrison just telling him he still doesn’t like his tie. Backing vocals enhance this vibe by producing light and airy support. In some areas these backing vocals become warped and trippy before pulling in tight again behind the main vocal.
The artist describes how the song came to be born: “I Hope So came about with my friend Christian Taylor. It’s supposed to feel like shrinking and squishing and squeezing while also being glittery and sparkly.” Richard Orofino has made a remarkably clever bedroom pop song with “I Hope So.” It puts into action the quirky recording techniques used by the greats of the 1960s and makes something truly unique.