Artist Mobley has continued his streak for earworm indie pop with new single, “No Exit.” The Texas-based artist uses well constructed melodies, dramatic lyrics and fun instrumentation to create a song that is sure to get stuck in your head.
Starting off with a whistle reminiscent of an old Western title sequence, Mobley establishes the cinematic tone of the song with a crisp drum sound and syncopated bass rhythm. Everything works to build off of the story-based lyrics, with a soft synth pad creating a shine during the first verse, which slowly builds a tension then resolved in the chorus. Some distorted and sampled backing vocals add to the world-building of the soundscape, with some clock-like keys in the second verse contributing to the excitement. The rhythm sharp and panned guitar in the chorus add to the high-stakes tone of the song. A quick guitar solo in the outro resolves the fast pace of the single, getting out all the tension amassed prior. As a filmmaker, Mobley would know how to create a song perfect for cinema and this production does not try to shy away from that fact.
Mobley has a warm and rich voice, which suits this style well. “I’m just trying to break the second law / Don’t you want the grace without the fall?” sounds like a line straight out of a heist film, which is perfect, considering the lyrics describe a thief trapped during a heist gone wrong. Mobley is able to create a strong narrative, displaying his songwriting talents especially with the chorus, “What am I without people? / Scared, corruptible people,” highlighting the inner turmoil of his song’s main character. The catchy melodies only add to the powerful narrative.
Mobley is currently on tour across the USA, with an upcoming project Cry Havoc! set to release this year. You can listen to “No Exit” now on all streaming platforms.
