Korean American singer Eric Nam is back with his new album. He has started a new era with seven tracks that display the bittersweet and melancholy aftermath of a relationship with a pop ballad sound.
The first song on the album, “Lost On Me,” begins with a soft and upbeat tune. Lyrically the song reflects on a past relationship and holding onto silver linings instead of painful memories. Eric Nam’s soulful voice carries the chorus to beautifully written lyrics about acceptance.
“I Don’t Know You Anymore” is an upbeat pop song with a catchy guitar tune that contributes to Eric’s soft voice. This song takes a sour turn, now featuring a relationship gone awry and reflecting on how a person you love is drifting away. It has groovy and catchy tune and a theme of heartbreak, showcased with the lyrics, “Now you gaslight me with thunder and lightning and I don’t know how I should feel.”
“Any Other Way” starts off with a melodic whistle combined with an acoustic guitar that stays toward the chorus and outro. The song lyrically captures the feeling of light and a newfound love after a period of loneliness, shown with the lyrics, “I’ve always been a cynical, but you came in like a miracle cause you made feel again breath again my hear is finally making sense.” Eric’s dreamy voice and beautifully rhymed lyrics make this song extremely catchy.
“Wildfire” brings us back to heartbreak and lamenting on a past relationship. The heavy and simple instrumentals showcase Eric’s vocal range. The song stands unique from other tracks by the sudden silence mid chorus which draws the listeners back with its lyrics. The outro of the track finishes with heavier instrumentals and vocal layers repeating “I lost.”
“What If” kicks off as a pop ballad reflecting on the feelings of guilt and unanswered questions after a breakup. Eric sings in a rapid tone to encapsulate the feeling of racing thoughts, shown in the lyrics “I can’t help but wonder where your head and heart is maybe that’s the reason why I’m scared of calling oh did you find someone new? Or do you still miss it too?”
“Admit It” follows a softer and more mellow sound that blends through a guitar. The song is charming for its simplicity and rhythmic lyrics that are trying to convey what lingers after a relationship and dealing with the emptiness that is left.
The album’s finale “One Way Lover” sticks with the theme of heartbreak, this time delving into a one-way lover that takes but never gives. This track also offers a simple sound and lyrics but carries a lot of emotion.
Eric Nam’s “There and Back Again” consist of beautifully created and written tracks involving a sour relationship, betrayal, accepting mistakes and having a positive outlook. Eric Nam was able to pull off an album that depicts emotions and composes songs that listeners can relate to either past relationships, or the emotions and thoughts that come with heartbreak.
