Lex Holmes makes a lot of spare elements with just her resonant and introspective, reflective vocals, an evolving yet elliptical guitar riff and a touch of atmospheric keyboards in her songwriting generally. And on “Right Now, Other Side” she brings forth the state of mind and heart she was in after reflecting on a breakup with some with whom there’s no going back, no repairing what was damaged, only grieving that loss and one’s own role in what broke down an important bond that lingers in with you long after. When you’re in the deep down shades of the post-breakup period the self-doubt, the melodramatic thoughts that when you’re creative can lead you to write really intense and often bad poetry. Holmes indulged that impulse but rather than bad poetry she gives us a line like “I think I’ll miss you even after I die as a ghost haunting myself” which is very emo but who hasn’t felt like that but didn’t think to put it so succinctly. Later in the song, as part of the extended chorus, Holmes sings about how she’s going to “create a horror movie trailer of the stuff I said when I ran to hide and I’ll haunt it myself” which speaks to the ways we often try to punish ourselves over our own guilt even though no one’s asking you for that kind of self-flagellation. And it is a way you can haunt your own psyche with mistakes and thoughts of what you did wrong. But by writing a song that’s so raw and confessional in its imagery maybe Holmes worked through some of that anxiety and sadness that can stay trapped inside you when your brain can’t help but returning to the memories of when things went wrong. If the title of the song is any indication maybe Holmes has moved on from that dark place of the heart and in listening to the song maybe it can help other people by really articulating messy emotions with the rare clarity and honesty Holmes does here. Listen to “Right Now, Other Side” on Spotify and follow Lex Holmes on Instagram.
Queen City Sounds and Art 
You must be logged in to post a comment.