Martin Luke Brown - “see u later x”

Martin Luke Brown once again finds himself on our blog with “see u later x,” a track from his brand new album, damn, look at the view (available everywhere today).

Brown is on his way to becoming one of our favorite introspective finds of 2023. With his last single, "**it gets better,” he delved into the complexities of dealing with mental health, but with “see u later x,” he goes in a different direction, leading one to question the weight of saying goodbye, never knowing when it might be the last time you get to say it. As far as we know, there’s no other song in the history of the universe that attempts to convey this.

“see u later x” is wonderfully stripped-back, walking the line between indie pop and folk music, beginning with the strumming of an acoustic guitar and some wonderfully ethereal padding. Once Brown’s vocal appears, the sweetness of its delivery may cause some listeners to recall the tone of artists like Vance Joy or even the upper register of Gregory Alan Isakov. The lyrics enter our ears warmly and honestly, as though we’re being told a story from a close friend. This song will find a home in your heart before the first verse ends.

The refrain, on the other hand, grows to be quite grand in production, with multiple layers of Brown’s vocal creating a more mainstream polish in juxtaposition to the rawness of the verses. It becomes anthemic and the words are bound to be the ear worm you didn’t know you needed. A piano line brings us back into the second verse, where Brown runs down a list of all the times “goodbye” could mean forever and it is not difficult to imagine this song getting multiple sync deals with the next batch of films from Hollywood.

About “see u later x,” Brown adds: “It’s about all the times I’ve said goodbye without really realising it…the potent significance of something that I’m totally unaware is happening as it’s unfolding. Be it the kids I shared a classroom with for years, an ex girlfriend, my nan. I’ve been through a lot of goodbyes in my life and most of them I’ve been completely unaware of. It catches up with me sometimes and this song is just about that, kind of a thank you to everyone that’s played a part.”

Until next time, ‘see you later… have a good one…’ And be sure to check out the rest of damn, look at the view.

-TM