We previously featured George Styles as he delivered a poignant meditation on moving forwards and self-realization with his debut single, Better Conversation, so when we heard that George was back with How Will I Ever Know, we couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves in his universe once again.
Setting the tone with cinematic and dramatic electric arpeggios and cerebral vocals, George Styles opens How Will I Ever Know with intrigue and subversion. We immediately connect with the poetic prowess and stripped-back grunge adjacency which reminds us of early Nirvana.
The vocal design and rhythmic delivery is hypnotic like a mantra, manifesting with a psychedelic edge for the majority of the track, but explodes into a bold and immersive alternative rock energy for the final minute of the song. It’s genius and unique, perfect for a TV show like The Shards, or a movie like Cruel Intentions. We could also imagine it being featured in the recent Oscar-winning film, One Battle After Another.
The final eruption feels especially significant because the song seems to embody uncertainty itself. The concept of How Will I Ever Know suggests a mind caught between doubt, instinct and the human need to keep searching for answers. In a way, the message feels super zeitgeist and relevant to society today. It would also be a great track to open a live show with, creating tension before everything breaks open.
There is also something rather poetic behind the recording circumstances. We learnt that this was a song that was almost finished when it suddenly found a new direction after Tommy Street contacted George after 25 years. As Styles puts it, “the track came together on the power of entropy in a world of chaos”.
George recounts, “The track was born out of pure serendipity during a moment of creative stagnation. I was just sitting there, with the track half done, kinda lost on where to go with it next. Then, all of the sudden, I get a message from Tommy Street.”
Tommy’s drumming gives the final section its physical intensity, whilst Jeff Gilman‘s bass adds weight and power. That rawness works beautifully. Ultimately, How Will I Ever Know is about refusing to stop. George confesses, “I keep writing songs and am compelled by some sort of demon not to quit.”
Needless to say, we are in awe, and will be adding How Will I Ever Know to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist in the future, whilst we continue to stream George Styles‘ wider discography including Better Conversations, and anticipate future releases on SoundCloud.