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Dan Caddigan

Review: "when ur gone" - Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls when ur gone Cover Art

Paul Nicholls' latest release, when ur gone, marks three years since the young pop star has dropped a new song. This track proved well worth the long wait, though, as its packed full of emotional depth and melodic harmonies. when ur gone touches on the mental gymnastics one must go through when breaking off a toxic relationship – including themes of self-doubt, infidelity, and a fear of ending up alone. Paul's vocals pull at your heartstrings as he belts out "Baby you're a monster, leaving me with all the bites". Nicholls explains his thought process on the single being "This track is a reflection of personal experiences and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with toxic relationships. I wanted to create something that resonates with anyone who has ever felt trapped in a cycle of doubt and heartache. It's straightforward to understand and unfortunately based on a real past relationship."



when ur gone opens with lush, swelling synth pads and Paul's breathy vocals cutting through the atmosphere. Backing the crystal-clear main vocal are distant, tuned vocal adlibs that act more like another instrument layer than a traditional vocal take. Slowly fading into the mix are plucked chords that feel akin to the early days of Deadmau5 or Kaskade. The chorus, however, is fresh and modern with more elements of Future House production – like piano stabs and clean guitar riffs. when ur gone balances the rhythmic weight of a club banger with the delicate aura of indie pop, evidenced by emotional lyricism and a powerful vocal delivery.


British national, Paul Nicholls, is a singer-songwriter to keep your eye on as he continues to skyrocket up the male pop hierarchy with each and every electric new release. As a teen, Nicholls found musical success through his band, before pivoting to a solo career in EDM and pop. The young talent began to hone his skills as an audio engineer and producer, culminating in a series of EDM releases on Soundcloud. Paul's debut vocal track, Falling, put him on the map by reaching almost 300,000 streams –showcasing heavy traction within India, in particular. Outside of music, Nicholls is a scholar, having also studied Mechanical Engineering at University College London.



Written By Dan Caddigan



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