At night, your emotions can run rampant. What happens when you’re alone with your thoughts? Adrian Lyles has conversations with himself, simultaneously breaking the fourth wall in videos and, after finding that the light can shine through on his debut EP, Horizons: Dawn, tries to hold onto peace in the aftermath of all the pain and heartache he’s experienced. On his latest collection of songs, Horizons: Dusk, talking to oneself seems like the perfect way to ease the pain.
The three-track project opens with “Peace of Mind,” an instantly catchy, dynamic track that begins with Lyles calling out, “hello” — to others, to oneself, to a light that he can’t quite reach. He admits how hard it is to carry expectations and assure and comfort other people when you don’t feel that stability yourself. He sings, “Why does everybody need me to stay / Oh there ain’t no good news to say.” At its core, the track is a promise to oneself and to someone. Even when completely out of reach, Lyles describes this duality between light and dark, and how calm and hope might give you peace of mind.
To break from the doubt may just be all-consuming, Lyles finds. On “Why Not,” has all these questions of doubt and second-guessing. He sings, “Why fix it / Why look for anything different / Why win a game you’re not losing.” Only someone interrupts the doubt with an answer: “Why not.” It leads him on this question for growth as he finds self-confidence, finally permitting himself to go all in on life, love and ambition. It’s a tricky thing to realize, but Lyles learns that it’s okay to stumble along the way if it means you can have that light.
Lyles ends the three-track project with a glimmer of hope, as he did with Horizons: Dawn. He finds himself continuously stuck in doubt on “Don’t Expect Much.” Feeling stuck, Lyles is simply weighed down, singing, “I live in a neighborhood in my head.” While difficult, Lyles asks for patience in a plea and a promise: “Don’t expect much from me, just meet me there, I’m comin’.” It soon dawns on him — the success, the people watching him and the surreal transition from writing casually to performing on tour — highlighting the massive shift his career has taken.
Despite this, he’s still human and finds himself alone. In the closing lines, he asks for understanding and finds that growth and healing take time. Ultimately, the project runs a tightrope between the push and pull of fear and hope — caught in the dusk between who you were and who you’re becoming.
Keep up with Adrian Lyles: Instagram // Spotify // X // TikTok // Facebook // Website
