On Jan. 24, Norwegian alt pop producer anton. released his newest single, “red eye.” Known for his love of coffee, even naming many of his previous singles after different types of coffee drinks, the cover art of this single follows this theme. The aptly named “red eye” is an electronic-driven alt pop anthem about a relationship gone wrong.
anton. starts us off slow with some muffled instrumentals and vocals that break to the foreground for the first verse. The theme of the song is immediately clear with the first lyrics, “Girl say your last words.” anton.’s vocal style is somewhat defeated in the delivery of this tough message, and yet it’s still relaxed, reminiscent perhaps of Shaboozey’s vocal style on “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”. The lyrics “you don’t know how to call it off” are repeated in the pre-chorus as anton. voices his frustration with his partner. The transition to the chorus is smooth with the addition of steady percussion and subtle vocal harmonies.
We hear a bit of a change of tune from anton. in the second verse, with his vocals becoming higher and clearer as he delivers the line “I’m happy by myself / Not counting on anybody else.” This newfound empowerment grows throughout the rest of the song, culminating in an expressive bridge. The production of the song builds throughout, filling out the space with subtle but significant background vocals and beat drops that elevate the energy of the track.
With “red eye,” anton. has perfectly captured the swell of emotions that comes with the end of a relationship. The combination of melancholy in the instrumentals with hope and empowerment gained in the vocals perfectly expresses the mix of sadness, regret, and relief that often come with walking away from someone who isn’t good for you.
