Monrad, the solo project of once soft punk band member Matthew Ramon, speaks for the rest of us “Caught Up” in the rat race in his latest single. The song opens with an infectious groove, blending playful, upbeat beats with a brooding, reflective melody. Monrad enters like butter melting into the music. The deep, grainy timbre of Monrad’s voice is akin to raw, dark chocolate—rich, intense, and undeniably smooth, yet bitter with truth. His vocal delivery, slow and grave, gives the song an air of suaveness tinged with a smug zest as he sings about the relentless hustle of life.
“Caught Up” explores the pressures of constantly striving for success, balancing work and personal life, and the never-ending demands of daily routine. The lyrics illustrate a sense of disillusionment with the endless grind, expressing a desire to escape from the constant need for productivity and success. He sings out a solution for all of us in the line, “…Right now, I am just down for whatever, as long as it keeps me entertained.”
Musically, the track stays true to Monrad’s style. The rich, reverby guitar sound comes to the forefront in the bridge, while the beats keep hitting up the engagement. Towards the end, distant backing vocals create a dreamy, detached atmosphere as though being heard through a glass wall. It creates a vibe of a dying voice, failing to be noted amidst the more competent noises in the hustle.
Monrad’s “Caught Up” only follows more excitement for the singer, as he has live shows planned soon. We can only wait to find out how enrapturing “Caught Up” will be on stage.
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Review by: Naomi Joan