Ah, winter.
Hot cocoa, gloves, mittens and the serenity of a fresh snowfall leaving the ground pristine and full of new possibilities. If you’re anything like us, you’re sick of this shit and can’t wait for the vernal equinox and the debauchery associated with warmer weather. Likewise, no amount of West Coast glitter can take the East Coast glare out of Fluencee — the efflorescent artist originally from Philadelphia.
His newest single “Chasing After You”, which drops today (March 1), is the perfect opportunity for the rest of us frozen figures to fight off the fading frigidness in exchange for some fun.
Following the strength of his superb September 2018 five-track EP Foxgloves, Fluencee returns with his first track of 2019 and yup… it’s a jam. As Fluencee is a technical wizard capable of steering listeners through sonic magnets combined with M. Night Shyamalan-esque twists, “Chasing After You” is a perfect encapsulation of the rewarding unpredictability found in Foxgloves. Built around the refrain “I’ve been chasing after you so long / So, so long”, the track’s genotype is bouncy synths and luminous saxophones fused with finger-snaps and skittering percussion.
The glistening production is a testament to Fluencee as a craftsman yet his unorthodox approach to pop and electronic music is an attestation to his artistry. The addictive cut shines through the speakers and embodies requited attraction; the refrain akin to telling your crush how long you’ve chased them only after you’ve won them over. “Chasing After You” is the 2019 version of The Notebook but with more drops and less dementia.
To hear Fluencee describe his approach, there’s a reason why “Chasing After You” sounds like day-drinking around Seaport or walking through the Back Bay at sunset. “It’s funny you mention [weather] because my birthday is June 20, the first day of summer every year,” he tells Vanyaland. “And being from the East Coast, constantly getting pelted with rain and snow, I always looked forward to that time of year. So most of my music hearkens back to warmer, more summery times.”
Someone tell Fluencee there’s no need to chase us — we’re already here vibing to one of the surefire tracks of the summer.