Northhampton's slowthai is known for being brazen. Several cuts off of his 2019 debut Nothing Great About Britain boast the in-your-face bravado that makes it hard to look away (see: "Doorman" and "Inglorious"). Following the release of three standalone singles in 2020 and energetic collaborations with Gorillaz and Disclosure, the enigmatic rapper is now back with his first official single since Nothing Great About Britain. "feel away" is a refreshing departure from his more upbeat tracks.
Featuring a guest appearance from James Blake and production from Mount Kimbie's Dom Maker, the single is self-aware and contemplative. As reserved as it is, "feel away" does not fail to draw his audience in – in fact, the slow-burning single showcases his ability to enrapture an audience with elastic delivery. In a subdued tone, slowthai muses, "Suddenly not half the man I used to be / But truthfully, it hurt what you could've been." James Blake joins in with his floating lilt in the bridge and second verse, rounding out Maker's atmospheric production.
According to a recent Instagram post, the track is dedicated to slowthai's late baby brother, Michael John. In the touching caption, slowthai writes, "Today is the anniversary of my baby brother's passing. This is one of the biggest days of the year for me and my family, and with my whole heart I can say I’ve never missed anyone as much as I miss him, I know you’re looking down on us everyday with your smile. I’m doing everything in my power to live for him and also make him proud."
