Our obsession with Alexander Saint seems to grow with every listen! We previously featured the talented artist for the reflective and self-realized single, Better, and the high concept and intentional, Bad Friends, so when we found out that Alexander was back with Other Hand, we couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
With Other Hand, we are invited to witness a philosophical exploration of love, loss, and the fragile nature of human connection. The song’s delicate acoustic opening, paired with raw and intimate lyricism, sets the stage for an emotional journey into the impermanence of relationships. Saint begins with a confession, “I’m not a bad man, I made some bad decisions,” immediately establishing a tone of self-reflection and regret. These opening lines confront us with the timeless human struggle of reconciling identity with the consequences of one’s actions, a dilemma that speaks to the tension between intention and outcome.
The heart of the song lies in its meditation on time and memory. As Saint reflects on “twelve good years” lost to a fading love, the weight of what has been irretrievably left behind becomes palpable. Here, the listener is reminded of the inevitable erosion of shared dreams and aspirations, emphasizing the ephemerality of human experiences. Through this lens, the song subtly questions the value of attachment in a world where nothing remains permanent, echoing Eastern philosophical ideas of impermanence and suffering.
Saint’s vocal delivery is a masterclass in vulnerability, carrying a weight that transcends the physical realm, inviting listeners to engage in a shared emotional catharsis. The haunting line, “I guess I’m not ready to put this ring on the other hand,” serves as a poignant metaphor for the liminal space between holding on and letting go. It symbolizes the existential crisis of moving forward while still being tethered to a past that shapes but no longer defines us. In this way, the song doesn’t simply recount the pain of separation – it illuminates the quiet, ongoing work of reconciling who we were with who we are becoming.
Saint’s background, as someone deeply rooted in the Toronto music scene and influenced by his multicultural identity, adds layers to the song’s themes of change and duality. As he navigates the personal terrain of loss, he is simultaneously charting new ground as an artist in the alt-folk space. This dual journey mirrors the song’s exploration of changing relationships, showing that personal evolution is both an inward and outward process, a transformation of self that extends into the world.
Ultimately, Other Hand is a sonic reflection on the human condition, deftly balancing the personal and the universal. It is a reminder that the stories we carry with us – of love, regret, and the passage of time – are not just memories, but living parts of our present. Alexander Saint invites us to sit with these feelings, not to resolve them, but to acknowledge their complexity and, in doing so, find beauty in the fragile spaces between loss and healing.
We love what Alexander Saint is manifesting, and have added Other Hand to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our brand new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream his exquisite, growing discography!