Review

Airports pulls no punches in his slick new single “Second 2 Breathe”

Aussie pop-rocker Aaron Lee – aka Airports – first single of 2022, “Second 2 Breathe” raises a middle finger at shitty friends while simultaneously flexing a personal vindication as he steps into new sonic territory.

Singer, songwriter, producer, and engineer – Airports pulls no punches with his slick production this time around. He pulls from a wealth of genre sources – deftly combining elements of electro-hop and indie-rock, with some quality pop sensibilities thrown into the songwriting itself. 

Clean, cut, snappy and ever-varied, “Second 2 Breathe” finds its feet with rollicking pace, a keen juxtaposition of hazy and hardcore electro-rock proclivities, and a couple of classic hooks bred to scoop the straggling listeners. There might be a moment or two when his ambitious scope threatens to turn the track cluttered and clumsy, but it never quite gets there. Instead slick production navigates the margin of wildness without ever letting it tip over the edge. 

At its core the track feels like a knock back at friends who fell to the wayside – but it’s also reflective on coming to terms with a barrage of lessons he’s been confronted with in recent years. It’s a plea for a moment to breathe. And it’s as well crafted as it is overarchingly relatable.

Feature pic supplied by artist