Silas Short ponders strangers and their dreams in colorful neo-soul track “L-Train”

For the LA-based Silas Short, he’s able to reap the benefits of life’s painful moments by flipping them on their head through music. That transformation is waiting to be heard in Short’s upcoming album LUSHLAND, but comes through now in brand-new releases like his latest single “L-TRAIN”.

In the track Short takes time to calm himself and sink into the present moment while commuting on a train in Chicago. Here he finds solace in observing the people around him, wondering how they choose to live their own hectic lives, and if they are following their dreams.

“During my years in Chicago working and depending on public transport, I would constantly observe and people watch, which inspired the inquisitive nature of this song as the lyrics lay over many possible perspectives of the people taking the train,” Short said. “I felt compelled to even relate it to myself and my relationship with following my dreams, and how others may have a relationship with theirs in such a vulnerable yet harsh environment.”

Meshing mellow piano riffs and sweeping strings atop a smattering of other smooth, soulful instrumentals, “L-TRAIN” is full of wildly textured free jazz sounds. It’s an effortlessly lush R&B project, which also marks the first time Short both raps and sings in a song. This single, plus the the rest of Short’s upcoming album, was crafted by Short making up lyrics spontaneously, then writing guitar lines around the vocals. From there he would build upon the song until it eventually took on the textured end-product it ends up as. It’s an untraditional, almost mathematical way of crafting songs, but for Short, it really works.

The songs off the upcoming album were all inspired by elements of Short’s life. From late-night watches of emotionally saturated movies by Wong Kar-wai, times at a bar in states of contemplation, and quitting bad habits to embrace new beginnings, it promises to be a colorful listen. For a taste of that sound, start by listening to Short’s new single “L-TRAIN” below.