helloworld – “Heartpiece” [Song Review]

The sonic creation of producer and singer-songwriter Drew Wilken, helloworld releases his new single, “Heartpiece,” a blend of cutting-edge pop and 8-bit instrumentation, a sound probably best expressed as future nostalgia.

According to helloworld, the song was inspired by Tears of the Kingdom and Legend of Zelda, manifesting his background in coding and video game culture. helloworld explains, “I wanted to shape this song to be a ballad about constantly looking for this thing in the sky that you can’t reach, and you know you can’t reach it.” Yet undaunted, you persist in searching for it.

Relatively new on the scene, helloworld has already established himself as a talent to be reckoned with, remixing dance music artists such as Boombox Cartel, Flux Pavilion, and Gryffin. His previous releases received validation on Spotify playlists like Anti Pop, Creamy, and New Music Friday Dance, as well as Apple Music‘s danceXL, Breaking Dance, and Melodic Bass.

His music has been featured on BBC Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale Show, triple j, and Deadbeats Radio. Last year, helloworld took off on his debut headline tour, performing at venues like LA’s Moroccan Lounge and NYC’s Elsewhere.

helloworld, photo by Ronnie Lloyd

“Heartpiece” rolls out on a low-slung, glittering guitar topped by helloworld’s deliciously creamy voice, soft, dreamy, and passionate. Emerging, glowing synths infuse the melody with gossamer textures, adding dimension to the tune. Sparkling keyboards merge with avant-garde synth accents on the outro, giving the song a delightfully unusual finish.

The detailed and luxurious flow of “Heartpiece,” draped in sumptuous textures, sees helloworld wearing his heart on his sleeve.

Run Time: 2:56
Release Date: April 12, 2024
Record Label: Independent