Setting the tone with textured percussion and a dimensional, vintage synth melody with intricate layers, Apple Eyes open Be with warmth and atmospheric vocals with the lyrics, “Now we are here, a dream became reality…”. Immediately, we are drawn into the nostalgic glow of the production.
We immediately connect with the uplifting nature of the composition and the high emotional quotient that manifests throughout. Be is a thoughtful piece of synth-driven pop that balances optimism with a deeper awareness of life’s unpredictabilities. The lyrics explore the twists and turns that come with simply existing, it feels relatable and zeitgeist.
There is no doubt that Be holds a cinematic allure. We could imagine this track finding a beautiful sync placement in a coming-of-age series like Heartstopper. It would also fit naturally within Adults, The Summer I Turned Pretty or a movie like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Claire Hadidjenar delivers the lyrics with a sublime and understated warmth. The influence of artists such as Phoenix, Air, Daft Punk and Bat for Lashes can be felt in the wider sonic palette. We particularly appreciate the creative independence behind the recording.
Written shortly after Claire and Matthew Walker adopted their cat Lucille, the song carries an unexpectedly charming origin story, but it is the duo’s complete control of the process that really stands out. They played every instrument, engineered, mixed and produced the track themselves from their London home studio. They even developed a custom synthesiser plug-in named after Lucille specifically for the recording.
We learn that Claire and Matthew met while studying Music at university. Claire, born in Indonesia and raised in Hamburg and Manchester, serves as lyricist, lead vocalist and co-producer, whilst Matthew composes, performs multiple instruments, produces and mixes.
We are excited to see where Apple Eyes take this beautifully self-contained sonic universe next, and their upcoming acoustic set at The Harrison in King’s Cross on 24th September offers another opportunity to experience that creativity in a live setting. In the meantime, we have added Be to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the duo’s wider discography, including Familiar, and their cover of Air’s Playground Love.