Sometimes the best songs are those that don’t try too hard. Uusikaupunki’s “Only With You” sits quietly with you, almost as if it’s aware of what you’ve been through. This is a song that’s full of the ache of heartbreak, but it doesn’t wrap it up in too many words. There’s soft guitars and lo-fi sounds and that great singer who seems to just be there, a real person singing to you. Nothing is perfect about Uusikaupunki’s voice — it’s rough, out of tune sometimes, and entirely human. You can hear the influence of Neil Young and John Lennon here, but also in the lyrics that feel like they’re from a diary. It’s raw and a bit experimental, but never showy, and that’s why it works.
This song has a strong sense of space. There’s room in the production for every sound to breath. It’s not crowded and it’s not hurried. You can hear echoes of Sonic Youth in the production of the atmosphere: layering without being overwhelming. “Only With You” may set the tone for the rest of the EP, but it’s more of a song of stillness than motion. It captures the feeling of being still in the loss before you figure out how to move forward. Uusikaupunki recorded this song in a time of personal transition, and it shows. You don’t have to know the artist’s story to hear it — it’s there in every chord and every gap between the words.
What makes this song stand out isn’t just its honesty — it’s the way the honesty is presented. Found sounds, live takes, and an intentional choice to leave imperfections in place all make this song feel lived in. It doesn’t need to be radio-perfect. It needs to be something else. It needs to connect. And it does. It was recorded in a small studio inside an East London art gallery, and you can hear the creative freedom that gave the song. Uusikaupunki isn’t chasing trends — this is art from someone who had something real to say. “Only With You” doesn’t just tell you about heartbreak — it lets you feel it. And if you’ve ever loved and lost, this song will probably speak to you.
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