Time flies. We hear it on a regular basis, however it doesn’t actually hit till sooner or later you look again and marvel the place the years went. XOLEX, the Iowa-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter, is right here to remind us that these phrases aren’t only a cliché—they’re a intestine punch. On her newest single, “Time Gained’t,” she takes that feeling of nostalgia, remorse, and realization and turns it into one thing hauntingly lovely.
Together with her signature mixture of nation storytelling, pop hooks, and a bit of rock ‘n’ roll grit, XOLEX delivers a tune that feels each deeply private and universally relatable. “Being a songwriter, I wished to put in writing one thing that was laying heavy on my coronary heart lately,” she shares. “Once I was youthful, everybody would at all times inform me ‘time flies.’ Now that I’m grown, that saying haunts me on daily basis.” And you may really feel that weight in each lyric, each be aware, each breath of “Time Gained’t.”
From the very first strum, the tune units a reflective tone. The association is stripped again simply sufficient to let her uncooked, addictive vocals shine. There’s a vulnerability in her supply that brings to thoughts Kelsea Ballerini’s “Rolling Up the Welcome Mat,” however with the smoky, impassioned energy of Adele’s 30. It’s not only a tune—it’s a dialog with the previous, a plea to the current, and a warning to the longer term.
The lyrics hit arduous: “Want I may return to 1997 / So I may see my grandma as soon as once more.” It’s the form of line that sneaks up on you, making you wish to pause no matter you’re doing and simply be. That’s precisely what XOLEX hopes for: “I would like individuals to take heed to this tune and acknowledge we must always by no means take time without any consideration—to be the place your two toes are and soak up each second.”
XOLEX has by no means been one to draw back from actual, trustworthy storytelling. Whether or not she’s belting out anthems about poisonous relationships (“Ain’t Buyin’ It”), reclaiming her wild facet (“Insurgent Little one”), or embracing her country-rock swagger (“Daisy Dukes”), her music at all times comes with an unfiltered edge. “Time Gained’t” isn’t any exception—it’s not only a tune about time slipping away, it’s a reminder that now we have the ability to be current.
The manufacturing, helmed by Nashville veteran Bobby Terry (who’s labored with legends like Garth Brooks and Religion Hill), completely enhances the tune’s message. It’s intimate but expansive, permitting XOLEX’s voice to do a lot of the heavy lifting. No overproduction, no pointless frills—only a superbly crafted tune that appears like a late-night drive by recollections you didn’t understand you missed.
XOLEX isn’t simply making music—she’s creating moments, the sort that linger lengthy after the final be aware fades. And if Time Gained’t is any indication of the place she’s headed, she’s not simply one other rising nation star—she’s an artist with one thing to say. “It doesn’t matter what, my vitality speaks for itself and I hope that folks can really feel that and join with me by my music, to know they’re not alone.” Mission completed, Lex.
Mindy McCall
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