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The song (which released alongside a Saddiq Abubakar-directed music video starring Misch and his father, Peter Misch) sees the English musician trade in his usual pop/neo-soul stylings for a sound closer to the average singer-songwriter affair, a sound that he has hinted at and explored before, such as his cover of Patrick Watson’s ‘Man Like You’ from his 2018 debut album ‘Geography’.
‘Old Man’, scales itself back to nearly its bare bones. The track takes its time building from just Misch’s voice joined with his guitar, adding laid back drums, subtle backing vocals and slide guitar for texture, then climaxing with a smooth and emotive guitar solo.
The lyrics, fittingly co-written by singer-songwriter Matt Maltese, focus on the changes that occur as we grow older, using the trope of “becoming our parents” to explore aging and generational legacy. “Lately / Look in the mirror it’s hazy / Who is that figure before me? / He looks a bit like my old man” Misch reflects on the chorus, followed by “Maybe / I’ll play this song when I’m 80 / I’ll have a son and a family”, with a delivery that feels like both a warm look to the future and a nostalgic memory of the past, highlighting the cycle of fatherhood and growing up.
‘Old Man’ is Misch’s first release since his ‘Six Songs’ EP late last year, and highlights the power of stripping back his already laid-back sound. His and Maltese’s lyrics are interesting and lovely, making for Misch’s most contemplative and reflective song to date.
