Emotions Lit Like a Flame, and How to “Stop, Drop & Roll”
“Stop, Drop & Roll,” just released for the new year, was originally a guitar line that John Hanifin had stored as an idea for years. It wasn’t until he added a hiccup syncopation that allowed the single as a whole to really take off and become what it is today. Hanifin has shared to be particularly proud of the bridge, the vocal arrangement with vocoder, the cello section he recorded over them, and compositionally the withering away of instrumentation without tacky fades.
On the release of the single, Hanifin has also stated as such:
“Sound is easy to create, but my goal is to always find the space – that moment of silence and emptiness that does more than anything I could ever create.”
Effortlessly smooth is the perfect description for “Stop, Drop & Roll.” The single begins with an electronic beat, one that comes together to create a jazz-like sound, and this satisfying tune continues for the track in its entirety. In the lyrics, Hanifin describes a setting that you cannot get out of, and relates it to emotion by describing it as something that was “lit up inside” of his head. These comparisons create the perfect visual, as of course, feelings and a relationship that is similar to a burning building is one that should be escaped from.
The track is also beautifully touched with accents featuring horn and string instruments. Not only this, but most notably in the outro, “Stop, Drop & Roll” also features a solo by a synth nicknamed “Gameboy Synth.” Overall, this track features an incredibly fun and attention-grabbing composition, and should be listened to by those of any music taste.
John Hanifin can be found for more on Instagram.
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