Fixed Heart by Ratchet: Review

by Gabe Finch August 7, 2022

August 7, 2022

The 20-year-old Karel Laureijs’ musical adventure began when he picked up the guitar in an effort to win over a girl he was crushing on in high school. Fast forward a few years, and the independent indie musician known by his nickname Ratchet has graced the world with his inimitable sounds. The single “Fixed Heart” is his most recent effort to experiment with novel and out-of-the-box approaches to music.

It is instantly obvious that there is nothing else quite like this tune. It strikes the ideal balance between upbeat pop-rock and dark ambient undertones. The groovy guitar melodies and upbeat instrumental arrangement offer a nice contrast to the rather dark and edgy lyrical theme. But as the music slows down and gradually strips away, Laureijs has one last ethereal, simplistic acoustic session before bowing out gracefully. His performance is openly honest as he exposes the sinister aspects of humanity that everyone possesses while trying to articulate and feel compassion for them.

Quotable lyrics:

“I walked the moon and felt more at home

It’s the warmth of your eyes

It’s the color of the sky

See my heart was filled with the color of the night”

Laurijs is completing his music degree at the University of the Arts Utrecht in the Netherlands while continuing to create music. If this is something he made out of a bedroom studio and the help of his friends, the sky’s the limit for his future career. Please give “Fixed heart” a spin as soon as you can!