narou's "take your time" provides gentle wisdom from the heart

When narou looks at his younger brother, he sees his younger self. Not simply a partner in Lego or building dens, the sibling in question has long been a close creative collaborator, helping narou realise his vision courtesy of his filmmaking skills – though for the purposes of this exercise, he's just a kid brother again. Both a meditation on their shared past and an expression of hope for the future, "take your time" was written as a kind of compass "to help him avoid some of the mistakes I made".

Originally from Vienna, these days narou straddles two continents: when he's not grafting in Berlin, he's catching the waves in Bali. He takes a philosophical approach to music and life, hinted at by his chosen moniker. "narou" means "to become" in Japanese, which seems fitting for the artist's emphasis on growth and transformation – something this project has finally allowed him to pursue. Like many producers, he's spent the larger part of his career working behind the scenes on the recordings of other artists, and it was only in 2020, with the release of his EP Good Company, that he began to find his own voice.

The result has been a gently melancholic strain of electronica and indie, not a world apart from the output of James Murphy or James Blake. While earlier releases have featured a more overtly R&B-inflected singing style, "take your time" rests on a subdued, slightly distorted vocal you can easily imagine dispensing gentle wisdom over a long-distance call. Supple synths and guitar melodies fuse together to create an unobtrusive palette of sound over faultlessly crisp percussion on his new album, otherside, out alongside the single.

Setting a good example to his brother is not something narou takes lightly. "As I reflect upon our lives, I aim to convey an important message, urging him to embrace a patient and deliberate approach towards life," he explains. "I encourage him to explore various possibilities, to immerse himself in activities that bring him joy, and above all, to follow the guidance of his heart."

This hopeful, deeply affectionate message treads similar territory to previous single "her lullaby", an unexpectedly acoustic offering which celebrated his partner along with the stability and fulfilment they found together in their relationship. Judging by this recent material, he's a man on a pretty zen trajectory, driven to make gracious acknowledgement of the people who make his life worth living.

But alongside sweet tributes come more painful responsibilities, such as the need to let go of your loved ones and trust them to make the right decisions. "It takes a lot of courage to swim against the tide and follow one's aspirations," he concludes, "especially when they may differ from what those around us expect." With "take your time" he acknowledges that he can't steer his brother's life, only rest a gentle hand on his shoulder as they both stare off into the horizon.