Sad Devotion – Out There (2025)
In a brief whisper of time in all its expanse, Sad Devotion had a “short but vivid life span around 2006…” culminating in a contribution on a 2010 tribute album to synth group Page. Now, after over a decade in the shadows – or rather sitting, waiting for the passion of Sad Devotion to reignite – the Swedish group returns to the scene with new music, new passion, and renewed zeal. The latest addition to their discography is the single ‘Out There’.
Following the 2023 three-track maxi-single ‘Where Are You’ (including ‘First Kiss’ and the ‘Where Are You’ remix), ‘Out There’ is Sad Devotion’s first release in two years. With a love of 80s pop sound, ‘Out There’ leans toward the vintage synth-pop tunes – think Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode twirling about in a kaleidoscopic whirlpool. Co-produced by Gustaf Hull and Tobias Isaksson, the track brims with colourful slices of shimmering synths, but Isaksson’s rapid drumming pulsates beneath, offering something faster, kind of like a heartbeat in the melody.
For me, the track is a warm drag back about three or four decades – the time of shoulder pads, big hair, and smooth, satiny synth-pop vibes. Yet, as much as the arrangement kills in the flowing instrumentation, it is Hull’s rich vocals veiled by a hush of synth-pop haze that rounds its vintage sound off.
Melodically, it’s a dream of warm fuzzies and ear-candy; however, there is vulnerability and melancholy lingering in the track as ‘Out There’ is a song of yearning, desire, and poignant reflection. Hull explains:
“I want to showcase the range of Sad Devotion’s music by offering a higher tempo than previous releases… The lyrics can be interpreted as an existential reflection or as a longing for love; that’s up to the listener.”
In addition to the single, Sad Devotion released an official music video for ‘Out There’. You can view the video below and/or on their YouTube channel.
Find out more about Sad Devotion on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bandcamp and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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