Rising genre-bender Dean Griffin of Southern California cuts out the lights and the bullshit on his smooth new single, "Lights Out. " It's a trance plunge into the underbelly of physical intimacy. The 21-year-old Griffin is already maneuvering his artistic vision with the maturity of a seasoned storyteller, and this track feels like the snap of a dimmer switch that unveils more than just romance but vulnerability with rhythm.
"Lights Out" doesn't just give lip service to what Griffin describes as that moment when everything else fades. The instrumentation simmers, the melodies curl like smoke and his voice? It's honey-slick and honest. "Lights Out" flirts, confesses, explores, and wears you down, implying that you can feel everything without a word too many. "Lights Out" is truly a vibe and an experience that morphs into a surreal music video co-directed by Griffin and Erin Cherry. The video, which stores surrealism and rich color to match the song's emotional lushness, stars dancer Megumi Chung and features choreography from Armand Abary.
"Lights Out" is a throwback to the velvety smoothness of '80s pop and R&B but laced with the somberness of contemporary artists like the Weeknd or Anderson. Paak. Helmed by Griffin himself, with co-pilot Joseph Guadiana to smooth the edges, the track is a heady concoction of feel and funk, part slow-burner, part shoulder-shimmy.
What gives "Lights Out" is that it's sexy without edits being superficial and polished without being drowsy. It's still walking that razor's edge of pop appeal and soul-deep introspection, making good on Griffin's not-working-around-the-edges ethos: He's not just dabbling in style but living inside the substance. For anyone who loves a late-night drive, a dimly lit dance floor, and tunes that can say more with a look than a lyric, "Lights Out" is mandatory listening. With more music on the way, this feels like the first page of a chapter we'll want to continue reading.
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