Drawing us in with a dimensional guitar soundscape and pop vocal, renaissance boy opens sugarbird with intentional lyrics as he sings, “I just want a pretty girl on the internet to like me, or a pretty boy to hold me when I’m sad, someone who laughs at my jokes, let’s put a record on and smoke, I’m looking for someone who understands…”
The opus expands into an experimental, indie-rock meets avant-pop hybrid energy as renaissance boy takes us on an evocative journey thought his mind and spirit, with cultural references to on screen romances and a refreshing, yet timeless perspective on love.
We appreciate the ebbs and flows of the track, the free-style add lib energy, the romantic and meditative middle eight, and of course, the rebuild with intricate percussion, and an anthemic final reprise. renaissance boy showcases poetic prowess and we are engaged by his visual brand of storytelling.
Speaking on his artistry as a whole, the emerging artist confesses, “After a huge breakup, a psychotic break, a queer awakening and a big bipolar diagnosis, in January of 2020 I set out to write an album encapsulating all these feelings. The album – music for birds – is a nostalgic, quirky art-pop record where every song is named after a bird, and after holding on to these songs for too long, I’m finally putting them out into the world with my first single – sugarbird.”
We immediately connect with the authenticity that renaissance boy shares with his message. He adds with reference to the track. “sugarbird is a story about a desperate need to find love in this world of technology and romantically connecting with the possibilities of how life can go when you’re with someone you love. A cheeky bisexual anthem about finding love in all forms.”
Fans of Rex Orange County, Frank Ocean, Beck and the fictional indie rock band from Scott Pilgrim Vs The World may be able to connect with renaissance boy, although it is clear that he is creating a universe of his own.
renaissance boy, who is also known as songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Noah Longworth McGuire has also created a music video for sugarbird in collaboration with director Sylvie Krekow, which is set for release imminently. In the meantime, you can watch the artist’s npr tiny desk submission on his YouTube channel! We have added sugarbird to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we anticipate future releases inspired by birds from renaissance boy!