Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Simple lyrics and untold melodies from a pair of artists who know their way around a beat or two – that’s essentially what Honey and Blue’s “All in My Head” is made of, and yet it feels as stacked to the brim with charisma as a song can be on its own. While touching on a soulfulness that has been fleeting in the pop spectrum lately, our lyrical protagonist seems just as optimistic as she does somewhat reflective and hesitant, much as the crushing chorus in “All in My Head” indicates. Though Honey and Blue are in one of the most competitive eras in the history of their genre, they don’t sound the least bit concerned with fitting in here, but rather defining a sound they’ve been developing for a long time now. As a duo, these musicians have a chemistry that can’t be replicated by anyone else in their scene right now, and it’s through this connection that they create some of the most passionate harmonies to debut in a single this summer, all while espousing a devotion to crossover soul that is truly refreshing in 2023.
The energy these two have is the cornerstone of every chill we get as the lyrics come together in “All in My Head,” and I think there’s a case to be made that Honey and Blue are exploiting their ability to read each other’s cues in a manner that is perfect for the soul-style bend of this song. This style feels like a natural hybrid, and this particular composition is drawing pop together with striking imagery all too seamlessly to be called straight soul.
The bottom end is big, but it doesn’t overtake the guitar our singer is straddling with relative ease as she finds the chorus, and although most prevalent in the hook, the overall R&B feel of this song is one much gentler than the modern standard has been producing. The pushiness of the average crossover just isn’t a part of this single, and because of how comfortable everyone in the studio is with each other, it has the intimate tone of something we might hear in a nightclub rather than a bar or even a proper concert hall.
“All in My Head” is a very brooding soul song with a strong pop twist, and for all it lacks in mainstream filler, it more than compensates us with an authentic emotion from its star players that I have not been privileged to come across very much this year. It appears that Honey and Blue are willing to get a little experimental with their songwriting style in this single, but I wouldn’t worry about them abandoning the signature aesthetics that are at the core of their sound. There isn’t as much purity in pop music as there once was, but with an increasingly inventive showing from underground acts like this one, I think it’s becoming obvious that experimentation is where the future of the genre lies. That’s good news for Honey and Blue and everyone who is hearing this new content.
Matthew Johns
