On February 8, LATE LEE along with Jae Luna and FLANNEL ALBERT released “On My Mind.” The track is a lament on love lost (but sometimes painfully unforgotten).
“On My Mind” is both a love story and a tragedy. LATE finds himself stuck in a tough memory. A lingering voice mail left to a lover after he realizes the relationship’s heading in a not-so-positive direction.
It’s a common tale. Two people who gravitated toward each other, like minds and spirits who sought each other out. The love was real, evidenced by the almost mournful message he leaves in her message box. There’s a note of regret, a hint of feeling as if they… he… could’ve done better. But in the end, he knows that for both of them to grow and retain some semblance of the love that brought them together, they have to go their separate ways.
“We tried our best,” he says, thoughtfulness coloring his tone. “I wish you well. I love you.” It’s this sort of maturity that tends to pepper some of LATE’s most introspective lyrics. Though still navigating his own voice and finding where his tone slots in, he’s grown exponentially in the past year. That means also confronting harder truths about his past and giving them the space they need. With each song he digs deeper and allows his pen to start him on the road to healing, thus personal evolution.
It becomes even more obvious just how well he does when in the company of friends. Regular collaborator FLANNEL ALBERT adds his brand of cheeky lyricism. While his tongue is sharp and his pen work is vicious, it doesn’t diminish the emotion he subtly slides into each lyric. As has become something of his hallmark, he integrates heartfelt honesty and immeasurable depth in his verse. Sifting through the bravado, there’s a very sensitive man who feels very deeply. That depth pairs perfectly with LATE’s own emotional purging. Further still is the texture of Jae Luna‘s voice, a mournful twang that adds another layer to the piece.
Conclusion
Each artist gives a simple lover’s lament some much-needed dimension. What could’ve been an attempt at bringing boy-band-saccharine balladry turns into a multifaceted attempt at each gentleman to unpack the edges of his pain. In that way “On My Mind” is a fascinating and not unwelcome addition to LATE’s discography.
“On My Mind” is the lead single from LATE’s upcoming album, “Elevator.”