Scott Kodi - "Long Game"

The opening few seconds of “Long Game,” the new single from Scott Kodi, are a little misleading. There’s something that’s just slightly ominous-sounding about the tone of the short series of opening guitar riffs, but it’s a bit of a bait and switch, as they quickly morph into the kind of drifting and circular notes that feel quite comfortable. Kodi’s musings in the first and second verses add to this easy-going vibe, as he sings cooly about the somewhat fickle nature of the songwriting process, where gains are sometimes subtle, and definitely ebb and flow. No matter, though, as he shrugs it off with a casual “that’s okay.” The song fills out with piano and drums right after the first chorus and adopts a very Kurt Vile-esque ambiance, which coincidentally or not, happens right around the time Kodi slyly name drops him in the second verse. While still maintaining this aura, he injects a dose of reality into the last verse and chorus, reflecting on the sometimes not-so-easy interaction between one’s creative pursuits and social life.

The accompanying video follows Kodi as he undergoes an intense training regimen for one of his favorite quarantine hobbies: gaming. Oh, and in addition to the aforementioned Kurt Vile reference in the lyrics, the Philadelphia musician’s fifth album also makes a cameo in the video. Kodi is definitely not hiding his influences! It’s a fun watch, for sure. 

Stream it below!

You can also stream “Long Game” on your platform of choice. Keep up with Kodi by following him on Instagram and liking him on Facebook.