by mariah estran
photo by gemma eve
After releasing his debut album Ugly, Thavoron returns with a new single, “18.”
At twenty-one, the singer is taking a moment to examine the impact of a turbulent relationship, sharing a song that exposes the aftermath of those scar-leaving connections. Ones that teach you strength even during the tangled times of vulnerable self-reflection.
Written during the quarantine, Thavoron was handed time to digest the past. His raw, open nature is seamlessly carried through the track. Poignant and hauntingly soft guitar chords draw you in while his tender vocals hold every inch of those gripping emotions.
Welcoming the listeners into his lessons, he sings, “I’ll wait for you to come save me. Like you’ve wanted since I was 18. I was so naïve.”
But as the story recalls moments of defeat and second-guessing overall worth — there is still a clear essence of breaking from those restraints. The artist recalls looking back on being 18 and searching for love. “I wanted to highlight the sadness and beauty of intimacy and movement with this song,” he says. “There's something so inspiring about altering your concept of self and reclaiming your power in the same body you once felt so used in.”
It is a passage through the obstacles. That visceral production moving the listeners. Composers Philip Peterson and Spencer Edgers added cello, flute, and saxophone. Those magnetic elements pull at heartstrings and are a testament to Thavoron’s emotive craft that he's perfecting thus far.