The track is the artist’s first release since the well-received EP Concrete
With his distinctive voice and signature, soulful sound, VC Pines has created a memorable and recognisable style for himself that feel entirely his own. On latest release ‘Be Honest’, the artist continues to bare his soul in the way that only he can, but takes on a more ambitious and alternative feeling sound that feels quietly optimistic in tone.
The track signals the start of a new era for the artist, having come out of the other side of his previous hardships as a new and more introspective individual. ‘Be Honest’ sees him explode out of the dark and pursue a bold and enigmatic direction this time around. Still maintaining his effortlessly smooth and soulful aesthetic throughout. This almost feels like the light at the end of the tunnel, a realisation of what the artist has been through and what he is left with, and making the most of that.
Speaking about the new offering, he said, “”Be Honest’ is a culmination of things, it was written towards the end of 2020 – the year of fuckery. So the beginning has this distrust and wariness I think we all had at the time. I wanted to convey my own mental health struggles and of those around me due to these strange, uncertain and lonely times. The tune explodes into this ‘no fucks given’ feeling “now I’m just drinking, sleep on park benches in my vomit” that boils and spills over into a sense of paranoia “street lights are blinking, whispering in code have I lost it? Be Honest.” I’d definitely been burning the candle at both ends when this song formed, so I think it’s a small yelp for help but at the same time, encompasses the nervousness of the youth of this country. Working on this with Tobie Tripp was dreamy, we really focused on every layer, from BVs to brass to flute and then he sprinkled his magic string playing on top. It has this meatiness to it, but because each layer is so in and out, it has this child-like ‘dares’ quality to it which I love.”
