I discovered this track at an interesting time. I just got called off work, I’m home alone, and it’s raining although the forecast said it would be sunny. Produced by Norwegian producer Hanz in collaboration with R&B singer emawk, “Ambivalence” is a melancholy and nostalgic track that explores feelings of doubt and searching for meaning. The song really hits when you’re in your twenties (in the midst of what is essentially a second round of teenagehood).
emawk offers sincere lyricism and hazy textures — a soundscape that could bring us to a place of sentiment and uncertainty. “Tell me this ain’t all," he repeats in the chorus over atmospheric production by Hanz. In a Complex story, Hanz explains:
"When I started the writing process for ‘Ambivalence’, my hometown was covered in a blanket of white snow. This winter was especially long and, even though the snow was beautiful, I was getting very tired of it. This inspired me to make something with a clear contrast: soft and tender chords with hard and knocking drums. I tried adding different instruments and changing up the drums, but nothing seemed to fit. I started looking for vocalists and emawk was the perfect artist for the track. The song is my way of capturing the feeling of ambivalence—conflicted and unsure."
The rain has finally stopped but I'll be listening to this song on repeat. Click here to listen to more of Hanz and emawk.
