“New Car” finds Vé/Zé—aka Hungarian songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Zoltan Varga—leaning into classic songwriting instincts while keeping his gaze firmly forward. Coming out of Mogyoród, Hungary, Vé/Zé channels the emotional clarity and craft of ’90s AOR. You can hear the honesty coming from writing, playing, and producing everything yourself. Featuring the rich, commanding vocals of Rádi Nóra, the track comes off melancholic and uplifting, a push-pull that gives it real staying power.
“New Car” opens with a gentle piano melody that sets a reflective mood before the beat starts to build. It’s a slow ignition, like turning a key and waiting for the engine to catch. When Nóra’s voice enters, her luscious, throaty, and vibrant voice immediately fills the space. She sings with conviction, carrying exhilaration even when the lyrics hint at dissatisfaction. The metaphor at the heart of the song is simple but effective, dreaming of a new car as a stand-in for wanting out, wanting change, wanting movement when life, or a relationship, feels stuck at a red light.
As the track unfolds, driving guitar riffs and steady bass lines take over, giving the song real forward momentum. She sings about “jumping into the two seater” and “waiting for the green to drive into the red” to capture that restless itch to escape, to reclaim a version of yourself that felt freer “in the good old days.” The arrangement stays mostly organic, letting guitar, bass, and piano do the heavy lifting, which only amplifies the emotional punch. There’s very little electronic gloss here, and that restraint works in the song’s favor.
By the time Nóra soars over the final stretch, “New Car” feels like motion made audible. It’s sad, hopeful, and energizing all at once, as a road song for anyone who’s ever wanted to leave something behind without quite knowing what comes next.
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Review by: Naomi Joan