City Lights is a track with a gorgeously calming ambiance and an inspiring, optimistic subject matter to drive it through with positivity and meaning. Ferreira is an artist with a hopeful outlook, as well as the sort of natural confidence and tone required to deliver a motivational and easy to vibe to song such as this with both heart and style. This release makes for a strong starting point for those new to his music, as well as a mighty indicator that there’s plenty more creativity and passion to come.
As the single pours through, a multi-layered synth backdrop fills the room with a sense of possibility and warmth. There’s a lightness to the sound, everything floats a little higher as it plays – even Ferreira’s leading voice feeds into this dreamlike, atmospheric aura in a perfectly fitting way. The whole thing is a pleasure to have surround you, so much so that there’s a deafening silence when it ends; and this is all before you even take into account the lyrics.
From a production perspective, the track has been masterfully crafted. The music sounds beautiful, full and complex yet simple and smooth in its completed form. There’s also a definite touch of relevancy about it that makes it an easy must for fans of modern trip-hop or alternative pop, perhaps even down-tempo EDM. The vibe is as fit for lazy days by the beach or a romantic evening in as it is for the late night after party.
From a songwriting perspective, there’s a notably memorable simplicity to the writing that makes certain it weaves its way into your mind without you really noticing the intrusion. The verses are short and lay out the facts in a personal but still widely relatable way. Then you get the hook, those two words, the repetition of two notes, rising at the end of each phrase – right through to the final time, when everything resolves and starts over. It’s a minimalist approach in essence, but satisfying and strangely familiar; adding a level of comfort. The second and third times you hear this, even from those opening, falsetto-style vocal snippets, you recognise it. We’re here for today – that back and forth melodic verse and that opening line add to the memorable characteristics and uplifting qualities of the song.
Perhaps above all else though, this single is so easy to get into – to escape within, whenever life gets a little too noisy. At the same time, if you do manage to focus on the words whilst losing yourself in the raw beauty and energy of the soundscape and the melody, you get to take away that all-important positivity and optimism. We can always use more of that in the modern world, particularly in music.
Ferreira has a respectable way with writing and performing – it’s humble but professional, and effective in giving us those good vibes we seek out in music. The upcoming album is undoubtedly one to look out for.
City Lights is a single from the album Mercury. Find & follow Ferreira on Instagram to stay updated.
