Just Released: "Start Over" by Ivan Frey

A lone infectious bassline kicks off "Start Over," capturing the listener's attention just like a sudden thought would capture your mind. This track is the latest single from Mexican-American singer-songwriter Ívan Frey. 

Taking 2021 off to reflect and refine his artistry, Frey returns with a sense of conviction--both of sound and mind. Previous songs in the Seattle-based artist's history, like 2020's "Seems Right" or 2019's "What's Up?" show Frey in a deep, reflective state. In contrast, 2022 and “Start Over” portray Frey as more affirmed and accepting of the present through letting go of the past. 

You see, "Start Over" is as much a manifestation of Frey's past musings and experiences as it is a sonic personification of his emotional journey. Within the first 10 seconds, Frey coolly begins to divulge into what is on his mind with opening lines, "Oh it's such a shame that I came/To feel this way, running into problems/Makes me want to hide away (away), something/Seem so off, got me questioning my days (days)/Guess I'll keep it real, I don't see no other way." Immediately following these lines is a four-on-the-floor, emphasizing the bubbling urgency that seems to be attached to every word Frey utters for the rest of the song.

As the instrumentation builds, Frey proceeds to get things off his chest. Lines like, "Wish we could both start over, take us to the days/Where we were little less older, always know me as/a jokester uh, back when we started getting a little closer," detail Frey's contemplations about a past relationship. These thoughts begin to refrain in a lowkey frenzied state while synthesizers chime in, adding a broader sonic palette not seen in Frey's older work. However, by the end of the track, you start to realize that maybe Frey is still in that pensive phase of the past. Repeated refrains in pleas such as, “Didn’t even need it this way, didn’t even need it this way,/Didn’t even need it this way, right now,” or, “Tell me something that, I’ve been missing and,/Got me going mad, need your love real bad,” convey Frey’s cyclical state—despite his efforts to move on. However, to change is to take that first step. I think Ívan Frey is surely on his way.

“Start Over” is OUT today! Listen to the track here, and follow Ívan Frey on Instagram and Twitter.