Mateo Arango

Matt Champion teams up with BLACKPINK’s JENNIE to curate an emotional and energetic drum and bass ballad. “Slow Motion” is the final single ahead of Matt Champion’s debut studio album Mika’s Laundry, set to release on March 22nd. The release follows his two singles, “Aphid” featuring Dijon, and “Slug” providing us a glimpse into the dynamic worldbuilding and depth of artistry of Matt Champion.

“Slow Motion” has an infectious chorus accompanied by somber piano melodies and heavy bass elements, curating a nostalgic soundscape throughout the track. Matt Champion and JENNIE, more commonly known for their rapping abilities, deliver a profound and sentimental performance. JENNIE’s heartbreaking yet calming verses compliment Champion’s vocals on the track. The simple nature of the lyrics resonates with the listener and converges with a universe of stories of love and timelessness.  

The opening lyrics, “Driving upside down, You're my escape from reality,” indicate a misdirection and uncertainty surrounding love. JENNIE envisions an alternative space in time that does not seem attainable. The slow build-up of the intro blends seamlessly into the energetic chorus of the track, which interrogates the dynamic nature of love and mortality in our rapidly spinning world. It questions whether or not stopping the passage of time and simply standing in place could make it easier to love a person. 

JENNIE & Matt Champion articulate feelings of timidity, fear, and wonder. They describe a sort of shyness that lingers alongside love that can ultimately hinder its progression. These disruptions and distortions leave only the few moments where we can truly stand still in our love. A love seemingly destined to move slowly as the world spins rapidly all around us. Ultimately, the track stresses the linear nature of our time-driven world, and how it could never account for the multidimensional persistence of love. 

Matt Champion produces a powerful and poignant verse conveying that if love is truly forever then it will still flourish even through its most difficult moments. He describes a personal collection of memories he keeps so that this love can persist, even if only within his mind. “Slow Motion” transports the listener into a state of nostalgia and timelessness. It delves into the cryptic ways in which love and time can distort with the rapid pace of our lives. Perhaps standing still in the moment without hesitation is the only way to make it any easier to love.

Listen here!