Synth Single Review: "Nothing To Me" by Palm Lakes
Palm Lakes’ single Nothing To Me is a song that contrasts darkness and light, positive and negative emotions and music that moves between something more shadowed and something bright and flashing. The strong, beautiful vocal melodies move from the initial feelings of melancholy through to a chorus infused with energy and forward motion. I detect decided hints of ‘80s New Wave music in the nature of the lyrics. This is synth pop that has a little more than just confection to it.
The drums throb out into this track, echoing under the sadness-tinged opening of the song. The vocal melody has shadows in it as the track opens along with the star shine of synth that occasionally sparkles. The more uplifting and driving energy of the music behind the chorus propels the song forward.
The vocal melody is beautiful as it moves and shifts from the sadness to the more positive feelings of the chorus. There is something triumphant about the words of the chorus, despite the rejection that they represent. They are a positive response to a negative situation and represent a way forward.
The lyrics start out in a decidedly melancholy mood with the line, “the world, right from the start, deceives you and breaks your heart” and goes on to say that it is “in my lies” so you “never see it.”
The chorus has a feeling of shedding the past as the words, “Light up above me, the long road ahead” call out before the narrator sings, “I can’t hate myself on everything you said and everything you are means nothing to me now!” It is the story of someone letting go of a past relationship and moving forward to better things.
However, as the lyrics say, “love rattles the cage, resistance all but flies away” and a voice adds, “You can only lose what you cling to” reinforcing the idea of letting go of past attachments and moving forward again.
The words add an uplifting note in the lines, “Somewhere you’ll find a brighter day. Someone will steal your heart. Somehow I found the strength to say I loved you and I knew I’d found a start.”
Palm Lakes has created an anthem to breaking old ties and venturing forward in life, despite the struggles that stand in the way with Nothing To Me. The combination of the retro-tinged sounds and the contrasts of light and darkness made it an entertaining, engaging listening experience.
