Del water gap - how to live
Written By Zoya Bokhari.
Overall Rating - ☆☆☆☆☆
The long awaited single, ‘How To Live’ is finally yours and Del Water Gap is back, better than ever! From the snippets alone, I already knew this would truly be THE song of the summer for the Alt/Indie scene and as suspected, it doesn’t disappoint; whether you’re a die-hard fan or a new listener of Holden’s, this beautiful piece really captures the Del Water Gap listening experience.
Right from my first listen, I found that ‘How To Live’ had the essence of a song you’d find used for the end credits of a coming of age movie. It’s an emotional listen which, to me, captured a first hand experience of growing up and from the title, living. Being the lyrical poet he is, Holden gives the piece this almost relatable aura; a mix of the moral ambiguity and truths we struggle to find at points in our lives, especially at the pinnacle of adulthood. The themes of anxiety and uncertainty are particularly heavy here and they continue to show as the song continues, especially through the line- “I know too much, it’s freaking me out”.
One of the reasons I really enjoyed ‘How To Live’ was the fact that I resonated with it, heavily. This is where I felt that others most definitely will too. It’s for people who struggle with the trials and tribulations of growth whilst navigating the ever growing tumultuous world to find the answers to questions they’d never asked before. This is where I found myself comparing the line, “There’s no God above me, and it’s fucking me up” to Sam Fender’s masterpiece, Little Bit Closer. The theme of finding religion and the struggles that come with it is heavy here and it captures spiritual confusion extremely well.
Overall, you’ll find that Del Water Gap isn’t afraid to get vulnerable; he’s encapsulating the desire to understand growing up with the lack of need for pity and the struggle to be happy to others whilst balancing with mental turmoil. I’m happy to say that Holden has represented the true feeling of existential dread by creating this intimate and evocative atmosphere.
Once again, Del Water Gap has got your back. So, if you’re looking for a sense of nostalgia or a good cry, this is the song for you.
Happy Listening x