Late night screen glare has a distinct temperature and 1oftheothers captures that exact unhinged nervous energy on his thrilling new single obsessed. The track kicks off with a brooding muffled electric guitar line and hushed confessions before detonating into a full blown wall of distorted guitars and walloping live drums. Mike Hawkins strips away every shred of artifice to expose the raw loop of obsessive devotion and the result feels immediately electrifying.
Transitioning from writing giant stadium anthems alongside global heavyweights like David Guetta to launching a fiercely independent solo outfit through AWAL takes incredible guts but Hawkins makes the pivot look effortless. He handles every single detail of writing and production and vocal execution himself and that singular creative vision shines through every bar of this track. You can hear how years spent mastering the art of the massive hook have refined his instincts to a fine point.
Releasing a brand new self-penned single every two weeks is a punishing pace for any musician but 1oftheothers is currently operating on an entirely different level of inspiration. obsessed stands out as an absolute triumph of concise songwriting and razor-sharp production that demands to be played at maximum volume on repeat. This project is quickly becoming one of the most exciting independent runs of the year and this track confirms Hawkins as a formidable frontman in his own right.
