Following the release of his sophomore album Signs, Los Angeles-based Derek Simpson shares his new single and lyric video, wonka. The song explores the duality of falling in love—of feeling entirely stripped bare and overwhelmed by emotion yet drawn to the excitement and adventure of the fall. wonka translates this experience into a song, blending the IDM inspired sound into this indie framework.
The song opens on these softly blended guitar strings and synths, organic and artificial textures married instantly in anticipation of the later instrumental break, which finds these elements of IDM layered into this alternative indie sound. Simpson’s vocals are delicate yet intentional, as his whisper-soft voice charts the vulnerability of falling in love. In spite of the disorienting experience the song mirrors, there is a warmth at the core of the song, captured as Simpson sings the line, “wonka turned a fall into a somersault,” as this fall becomes magic and something bigger. The song maintains this steady pace and rhythm as keys, guitars, and various samples meet in the middle of this track. The accompanying lyric video, directed and edited by Simpson, features studio footage alongside handwritten lyrics.
Derek Simpson is an artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose creative journey has taken him from the bustling city of Boston to the vibrant music scene of Long Beach, California. His tracks may now be familiar, as his work has been featured in Comedy Central’s “Workaholics” series, as well as amassing upwards of five million streams across all platforms. Loved by his fans for his distinct sound, characterised by this meeting of guitar and synth with his reflective wordplay, Derek's music explores the resilience of optimism in the face of change. We can’t wait to see what he does next.