The New York-based artist’s latest single is a picturesque ode to an iconic period in pop culture.
Touring extensively this spring and summer across the United States, Guardin’s perpetual elevation to prominence in 2019 can be marked by a succession of high profile shows. Thus far, he’s supported mainstream rapper Gnash and underground mainstay Wicca Phase Springs Eternal respectively, in addition to reprising his role on the iconic “Where are all my friends? Part 2” tour. It pays testament to his unrelenting work ethic that amidst this hectic schedule, the 22-year-old has continued to feed fans a steady diet of singles in recent months. Notable examples are heart-wrenching hits “Inside” and “Me, Myself and I,” with the latter being a collaborative masterpiece with Garden Avenue’s Taylor Morgan. His latest track “Tom From MySpace” serves as the lead single off of his hotly-anticipated EP Creature pt. 1 — his first full-length project since his third album Outsider dropped last year.
Dreamy, acoustic guitar-led production from fellow New York-based songsmith Brody entices the listener to step into a picturesque and nostalgic auditory paradise, which seamlessly fuses with Guardin’s enchanting vocals to generate a lulling ambience. The glow of burgeoning love emanates as Guardin explores the intricacies of interpersonal relationships through croons of “when we collide, we always tend to read between the lines and think too much about each other.” Guardin draws upon an ingenious popular culture reference to craft an infectious, yet tranquil hook. Citing the track’s title, the lines “I feel like Tom from MySpace, when she comes back to my place // started kissing all on my face, so I put her in my top 8,” eloquently summarize the warmth evoked in Guardin.
As getting listed amongst someone’s Top 8 friends was viewed as a highly coveted achievement during MySpace’s heyday, the comparison is a statement on his infatuation with the one he loves. The website’s popularity may have waned, but somewhere in an alternate universe, the golden era of MySpace is still thriving as “Tom From Myspace” plays pridefully on profile pages of users across the world.