The ultimate experience of putting on a full production concert in your bedroom while getting ready for a night out has come alive in nightlife’s new single “u know.” It’s time to get out the special-occasion lipstick and pick up a hairbrush, because this song will have you flirting with your own reflection in the mirror.
The three piece band nightlife, comprised of Hansel Romero (vocals), Allan Romero (saxophone) and Isaiah Walker (drums), returned from a two-year hiatus to deliver the perfect mix of iconic 2000’s R&B and soulpunk, with boyband influences and a modern shine. While they’ve been on hiatus from releasing music, that doesn’t mean the Baltimore-based group hasn’t been busy. Having been featured on multiple tours across North America with exciting high-energy bands like Honey Revenge, Daisy Grenade and Vana, nightlife has rode the high of live performance and is ready to dive right into their next chapter of new music.
“u know,” inspired by the Boyz II Men song of the same name, draws influence from a multitude of genres to create a unique-sounding song that feels like it could have been pulled straight from a banger CD mixtape. A punchy Timbaland-style beat driven by heavy 8-string guitars and gritty synths are the perfect base for Hansel Romero’s soulful, girl-group-inspired vocals. The seductive, empowering lyrics are the icing on the cake creating the perfect hype song to remind yourself that you are a force to be reckoned with.
“I’m everything you wanted / You’re just a carbon copy / You can’t take nothin’ from me”
(L) Photo by Ian Bell; (R) “u know” cover art
The early 2000s R&B influence is present throughout the song, but nightlife has done an incredible job taking their outside inspirations and putting their own spin on it to create something entirely new and true to their vibe.
According to Hansel Romero, “‘u know’ wears its main influence on its sleeve, ‘XS’ by Rina Sawayama, down to the lil guitar runs and transitions on the 8-string. I’d just gotten re-obsessed with Timbaland beats and really wanted to recreate that vibe combined with what Rina brought to the table with her version.”
The single also debuted with an original music video directed by Maryland videographer Ian Bell, which perfectly encapsulates the retro-futuristic theming present in the song. It feels nostalgic, true to the throwback R&B sound of the track while still appearing modern and in touch with the present. The video references “tons of different girl groups and boy bands, especially K-pop groups like Shinee and lngshot,” says Hansel Romero, who appears in the video rocking a gorgeous glam makeup look in true K-Pop idol fashion.
This is just the beginning of a new era for nightlife, and if this track is a taste of the future, we can’t wait to see what comes next.
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