FAKE SUEDE – “Speak Up”

It is always exciting when a brand new project releases something that immediately grabs your attention. “Speak Up” by FAKE SUEDE is exactly that kind of track. As the first single from his upcoming debut album, the Los Angeles based songwriter Jeffrey James worked alongside co-producer Kevin Hutchens to create something that is completely fresh yet comfortably familiar.

The song sits right in a sweet spot of mid-tempo alt-R&B and retro soul, built around a warm Rhodes foundation, lush vocal harmonies, and a rich horn section that gives the whole thing a smooth, laid-back groove. It deals with that exact moment early in a relationship where you have to stop playing games and talk about what you actually are to each other. Lines like “Like a wall like a rift / We pretend don’t exist” and “This living in between was perfect for a time / But soon the dam will break if we do not define” capture that tension so well. It’s one of the best releases I discovered this week.

The lyrics push for clarity, reminding us that you can show your heart all day, but both people have to speak up if anything is ever going to grow, and to make things even better, the project brings in a wonderful visual element through Quint, a heart-shaped character representing the emotional essence behind the music. It makes complete sense that FAKE SUEDE has already landed sync placements across big platforms like Netflix, A24, Love Is Blind, and Target.

I genuinely love this release and it is rare to hear a new project feel this confident right out of the gate. If you enjoy this track as much as I do, you should definitely check out his previous single releases from the past year to see how his sound developed. Make sure to follow FAKE SUEDE on all social platforms and streaming services so you can stay fully updated on everything he has coming out for the rest of this year, including his 15-track debut LP “This is Fake Suede” dropping on October 16th.