I've never had much faith in the ability of streaming services to provide a smooth transition from my perfectly curated playlist. However, the instant “Distant Lover” BLACK PARTY appeared on autostart, I realized that the algorithm might know me better than I thought.
The multi-talented artist, born Malik Flint, fuses R&B, soul and tropical funk, and you've probably heard his work as a composer scoring cameos of Issa Rae's songs. Unreliable and Donald Glover Atlanta. “Distant Lover” first captivated me with its atmospheric instrumental and airy vocals – the latter's powerful intonations reminded me of BROCKHAMPTON and the former's bright, undulating melody reminiscent of Ravyn Lenae. Upon first listen, I was immediately struck by the tenderness; finally, a song of longing for connection that… isn't sad.
Longing is a recurring theme (especially among Gen Z new wave artists), but here it is conveyed with a sense of peace and calm, without the agony that gives the song seriousness. I love a brutal track about heartbreak as much as the next girl (case in point: all the articles I've written about Lily Allen's track West End Girl), but sometimes when you're knee-deep in crushing—in fame, if you will—you need something to keep you in a dream state. This is that song.
