st.hogans – its not you its me/water [Single]

st.hogans, the soulful hip-hop artist from Denver, serves up a heartfelt track with “its not you its me/water.” Self-produced, the song merges smooth, chillwave vibes with soulful, introspective lyrics. The beat is laid-back, driven by a thuddy kick drum and subtly layered, quick-snap snares that march in a way that feel as if they were hand-drummed on an MPC. Towards the end, it transitions to an ’80s drum machine vibe, drenched in reverb. The bass is thick and melds seamlessly into the mix, creating a lush soundscape.

The central melody, played on a jangly, bluesy electric guitar with plenty of vibrato and finger sliding, adds a greasy, raw texture to the track. A phasing synth sound swirls, boosting the song’s moody and eclectic feel. 

Lyrically, st.hogans gets confessional, exploring themes of self-reflection and emotional upheaval. His clear, soft-spoken vocals bring a sense of closeness. There’s a tenderness in his voice, a satiny texture that delivers sweetness and sorrow in equal measure. Lyrics like “It’s not you it’s me/ Put you on the shelf and then I go and do my thing” and “I don’t need a dime to remain/ If I can’t have you” bring out the bittersweet themes of love, regret, and longing. This artist and this song are truly nice, blending soul and hip hop in a way that die-hard neo-soul fans will absolutely love. This track is a win from start to finish.

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