Drawing us in with a compressed, astral soundscape, expanding into indie-pop clarity with sentimental prose, SPEAK! opens CAN YOU FEEL IT? with vocals from DAME and the words, “Do you remember when we were young and we held our heads so high?” The opus expands with a retro-soul meets funk adjacency and thoughtful lyrics with a relatable notion. We appreciate the cinematic allure of the track, and there is no doubt that CAN YOU FEEL IT? would be perfect for an array of sync deals related to the overarching theme of the song.
We learn that CAN YOU FEEL IT? is about joy, freedom, and summer vibes. It captures the feeling of life reopening after lockdown. The lyrics reflect hope and nostalgia, and there’s a sense of endless possibility. The song celebrates good times, friendship, and living in the moment. It’s warm, upbeat, and designed to make us feel good.
The track boasts instrumental mastery – incredible guitar performances and a soundscape that is full of intricacy from the cerebral ad libs to the cohesive tapestry of sound that manifests. Speaking on the release, Jake Parsons of SPEAK! confesses, “I remember starting to write it on some of the hottest days of summer 2020, just as the world was starting to open up again – it’s all about that rush of freedom, nostalgia, and endless possibility.”
The production of CAN YOU FEEL IT? was a close-knit, collaborative process that brought together friends and live band members. Jake Parsons produced and co-engineered the track with Lucy Hill, recording the core elements, namely drums, piano, and vocals, at Zig Zag Studio in London with three of his best friends.
He then returned to Birmingham to add contributions from bandmates Tom, Arran, Sam, and Mark. The final mix was handled by his best friend Joe, making the entire process feel like a family affair that perfectly matched the song’s uplifting, feel-good energy.
We can feel that authenticity transmute with the song, and have added CAN YOU FEEL IT? to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream SPEAK!‘s debut single, WAKING UP!