Single Review: Never Like That

Emerging pop artist Taylor Roche has just released his latest single Never Like That. Roche is Auckland-based and full of flame. This catchy tune has some resonant and heavy hitting lyrical themes. Musically, it’s a real catch. Lyrically, it’s eye-opening and clever.

We often celebrate the new, hopeful beginnings of love, and pop usually helps us feel this playfulness from the inside out. We dance, laugh and sing along to the radio, and hope to be inspired by the fun, celebrant tracks made popular to listeners. This song may follow a catchy pop structure, but it resembles something that is often feared opening-up about. The lyricism in this track really begs repeat. Truth be told, our past romantic relationships can be deeper, more meaningful and healthier for us than the new endeavors we pursue. This ballad puts emphasis on this enlightenment. Roche created this track on a cruise ship one night in Mexico; he constructed his thought process with a keyboard, microphone, notebook and computer. His vocals are high-pitched, favourable, and really work well layered and emphasised. The backing beat and instrumentation are mixed well, has a real bounce and is musically uplifting. However, his songwriting skills embrace a more sorrowful theme. The song is crafted by the change we face in response to a break-up, touching on how we can completely change our personality and behaviours in order to escape the suffering from our past falling-outs.

Upon his return to Auckland, he made this demo into what it is now; co-produced with Sam Jones at BigPop Studios, and had it mixed by local engineer Jacob Rush. Never Like That is Taylor’s third single after the release of This Love Song and Over It. He is no newbie to the stage, having performed at events such as Coca Cola Christmas in the Park and Sparks in the Park. He was a music student, and after studying a year at university, Roche took on the courage to pursue music full-time. Now at 22, having also played music live in New Orleans, Miami and Mexico for a nine-piece pop party band as lead vocalist, Roche continues to make vibrant, full-bodied tracks with a fervour!