Fresh nostalgia: Retro jazz band Couch releases sickly-sweet single “Slow Burn”
- Autumn Johnstone
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
By: Autumn Johnstone
Do you remember your first crush? Was it sweet? Was it painful? Or was it a slow burn that built up over time and sizzled out like a can of Orange Crush? Even if you don’t quite remember high school beyond the nostalgia, you’re in luck. Retro pop band Couch just released their single, “Slow Burn”: an ode to the sweet suffering of young love.
Couch has the jazz of Men I Trust and the vocals of Kali Uchis — a perfect blend between being gentle and direct. It’s a song about reflecting on your romantic history with rose-colored glasses. Despite demanding parents and excruciatingly long hours at school, you look forward to your mess of a life because almost everyday you get to see your high school crush. You blush when you see them in the hallway. You might even misinterpret their asking to borrow a pencil as a means of flirting.
Your parents’ curfew may try to tame your love, but as you’ve learned, distance truly does make the heart grow fonder. Your parents don’t understand your lovesick behavior. Probably because they’re not 16 with an all-consuming crush — at least not anymore.
“Kiss me ‘til my curfew / I wanna ache again,” Couch’s lead vocalist, Tema Siegel sings, deep and rich with soul.
“Slow Burn” is beautifully simple and impactful. The trumpet ties the sweet lyrics in with the unobtrusive snare drum rhythm. It’s groovy, bass-pilled and laced with authenticity. Listening to it truly feels like going back in time to 6th period history class, staring at the horribly slow clock on the wall and wondering if you’ll see your crush in between classes.
If the melody wasn’t as upbeat as it is, the song’s lyrics might cause “Slow Burn” to be seen as melancholic and full of yearning. Right now, it’s passionate, catchy and great to listen to when you want to ponder your questionable relationship history. Before hearing “Slow Burn,” I didn’t think one could experience fresh nostalgia. Now, I know it’s definitely possible — this band stands as a testament to the painful, yet rewarding passage of time.
Between layers of vocal harmonies and expressionistic saxophone, we find ourselves floating back to a time in our lives that was etched with rule-defying and self-discovery. It’s heartwarming to look back on the past and be grateful for our lovesick teenage self. They made us who we are today: humans driven by love.
Follow Couch: https://www.instagram.com/couch.theband