PREMIERE | Barleaux, "Afterglow"

Barleaux is back with her biggest single to date with the shimmering and earth tilting debut of “Afterglow”. The pop personae of New York media maven Hillary Richmond, the artist’s latest single dwells on the feelings and fractured connections that can remain in the aftermath of a breakup. The illumination of light that ignites the memories that once held profound meaning and the substantive gestures once made — that now fall absent and are rendered almost empty — are resurrected in a pensive song about what its like holding on to someone who is not there (especially once the club lights have been extinguished after the curtain call).

Richmond frames “Afterglow” with an ethereal overdubbed angelic choir arrangement that creates a celestial space by way of vocal, synth and percussion sequencing. Working in conjunction with producer Ariel Loh — the Barleaux aesthetic and brand of romance novella-nouvelle vague is elevated to the artist’s most heightened level of creative realization to date. Following up on the algorithmic angles of last year’s “Code”, Hillary elaborates on the previous single’s themes of dynamics, cycles and complicated connections with the question of what do you do with the leftover feelings from an ended relationship of an unrequited bond. "Afterglow" burns like an alternate history narrative about what could have been, a deep and hapless dive into the deepest pools of the imagination and unconscious that plays out like a tear-streaked early spring sonata.

Barleaux, aka Hillary Richmond, provided the following introduction to the new single “Afterglow” with the following insights:

“Afterglow” is a tale of holding onto that leftover feeling after you part ways with someone. It's the infinite feeling of knowing your love for this person will never fade, despite the places and events life puts you through. Production-wise, it went through many different forms. I worked with a couple producers to really hone in on the arrangement. Originally it was an anthemic dance song, but Ariel Loh (Yoke Lore, Plastic Picnic, Glassio) took a very thoughtful an innovative approach by completely stripping down the arrangement and starting from scratch. It's got the whole sad in the club vibe. I love the effervescence that can take over the listener, how it has a spiritual feel and the general feeling of hope that we hang onto — even when a deep love isn't reciprocated.

Listen to more from Barleaux via Spotify.