Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Philmon Lee doubles up today with the release of his new singles “Home Drinker,” “Narcan,” and “Remember Me,” intensely personal records from the versatile vocalist that flaunt his range of influences, which include pop, rock, country, R&B and more.
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“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized you don’t have to go out to have an amazing time,” says Lee of “Home Drinker.” The moderately-paced, acoustic-driven record serves as a cathartic canvas that Lee paints with the warm, gravelly tone that earned him the distinction of “old, new soul” from Paste mag. The song’s central idea, that sometimes you have everything you need right at home, is conveyed by its lyrics as much as it is by Lee’s welcoming voice. “There’s no bar like home, don’t have to worry about closing a tab, or the bar closing too early!” he says.
“Narcan,” slightly more metaphorical in nature, is a true testament to Lee’s range. “I didn’t know you could O-D on heartbreak / It’s killing me inside,” he sings over a distinctly more uptempo tune than that of “Home Drinker.” Acoustics, while present on “Narcan,” work more in harmony with a pop-focused cadence without sacrificing the song’s emotional viscosity.
“The idea of the song is a relationship you’ve had with someone. And now that the relationship isn’t there anymore you’ve simply overdosed on heartbreak,” Lee explains. “The only thing that can bring you out of it is a little bit of their Narcan. Which would be a little of what y’all had in the past. Just to at least be friends again.”
Lee’s all-encompassing sound has characterized his career to this point, and made him a truly unique rising act. His genre-fluid approach to music attracted the eye of Epic Records in 2020, and his acclaimed 2021 EP, 706, included the notable collaboration with Lindsey Stirling, “No Saving Me,” that helped usher Lee to the national radar. He went on to collaborate with fellow Atlanta native Young Thug (“Baby Don’t Cry”) and has continued to offer a unique perspective on what pop music is and can be.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer