'Letting go' is an emotional terrain that accomodates a wide variety of emotions: sadness, resignation, nostalgia, melancholy, anger, despair, hope, (hard won) optimism, a sliver of euphoria. Working in the same vein as recent tracks like Lorde's "Green Light" and Slowdive's "Sugar for the Pill", Toro y Moi's (South Carolina singer, songwriter, and record producer Chaz Bundick) latest track "Omaha" distills the pathos of being the one left behind in simple, direct and compelling lyricism:
'Baby left on OmahaShe's got too much just going onAll these options forcing me to find myselfWhy on Earth would I ask you for any help?I was thinking wrong, yeahAlready gone, babyI was thinking wrong, yeahAlready gone, babyWho said its forever?You've got to set your mind freeI don't have time for this weatherI let it pour over me'
Lyrics: Genius
The song's soul and groove influences provide more emotional transparency than Bundick's previous catalogue of chillwave-leaning tracks, culminating in an outro that juxtaposes emotional stasis ('You're already gone, yeah') with backing vocals that insist on the need to 'move on' ('You've got to set your mind free'). It provides a reassuring familiarity (akin to a cross between The Beatles "Ticket to Ride" and Solange's "Losing You"); multiple listens will likely be therapeutic for those recovering from a break-up. The accompanying music video, which features Bundick attempting (a thankfully botched) suicide attempt via an elaborate Rube Goldberg machine, provides another avenue for catharsis.
"Omaha" has been included as track no. 13 on Secretly Canadian’s “Our First 100 Days” song series, which seeks to raise funds and awareness for organizations supporting causes that are presently threatened by the proposed policies of the current U.S. government.
