Pennsylvania artist Zubin is back with a new single, “Somebody Else.” We last heard from the Misery Club member and Working on Dying affiliate back in May when he dropped Potion, a 2-track collaborative EP with Cold Hart and Horse Head. On this new song we find Zubin exploring new sonic territory as he tinkers with his sound over production handled by Foxwedding and Albert K. The beat is noticeably ethereal and spacious, with icy synth tones that sparkle and reverberate like synthetic wind chimes throughout the airy instrumental. But what’s most striking here is how Zubin’s vocals are mixed and engineered.
Zubin’s usual crisp and clean vocals don’t glide smoothly over the beat this time around. Instead, he trades in his usual clean crooning style for a reverb soaked warble. His vocals is buried deeper in the mix and slathered in a phaser effect along with hint of distortion that gives his unblemished voice a raspy crackle. His voice is treated more like an instrument that fits snugly into the soundscape placing more emphasis on it’s textures and melody as opposed to the lyrics.
But don’t get it twisted. Even with the experimentation, Zubin’s lyrics are as emotionally in tune as ever as he deals with the impact of seeing a lover become a completely different person right before his eyes. From the way they look to the way they move. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Zubin himself switches up his style and moves a bit differently on this new track. It’s relatively new territory for the Pennsylvania crooner, and the experimentation really pays off giving this track a unique atmosphere among Zubin’s catalogue. Still, one thing’s for sure. You won’t be mistaking Zubin’s signature voice for somebody else anytime soon. Listen to the new single below.