Distance

Frenchie's latest single, "Distance," stretches out in the space between what's said and what’s suffered. Producer Femi Temowo stitches the production together like someone carefully avoiding the urge to fill a soothing moment with unnecessary sound. It’s all feathered edges - an acoustic piano pulling the melody into focus, strings shadowing the corners, cushiony bass notes bubbling low in the mix. Each part knowing better than to take up too much room.

The drums don’t drop so much as glide in, on fizzy cymbals ticking away at a double-time rhythm. By the time Frenchie's voice slips into your ears, the acoustic upright has already stepped to the rear, swapped for a Fender Rhodes glowing under her airy vocals. There’s even a touch of Gamble & Huff-styled Philly soul as a string trio threads through the choruses and softens the blow of her message.

Her words and delivery lean into a sobering realization - that gap between the two of them is wider than the words left to bridge it. "If distance makes the heart grow fonder, then why is our love not feeling stronger?" There's no anger to it - just quiet acceptance of their new abnormal. Her singing stays low and warm, never reaching for the rafters, just sitting in the ache and letting it speak for itself.