Endearments - "Left Side"

Brooklyn scene veteran Kevin Marksson has been around the block a time or two, playing in a multitude of great projects including Saint Marilyn, Belaver, and Joyce. But now, he’s ready to strike out on his own, and last Friday, he shared “Left Side,” his debut solo single as Endearments. Fans of Marksson’s previous projects will definitely find much to enjoy on his first solo offering, but it’s also clear that he’s interested in experimenting with new sounds and exploring lyrical territory that’s considerably more intimate. 

“Left Side” is a hazy and shimmering synth-driven track that features layers upon layers of lush sonics. Amongst a brooding beat and a pulsating bassline that adds a distinct air of tension, Marksson’s gets quite personal through his dreamy vocal delivery, describing his experiences of dysphoria with obsessive compulsive disorder and how living with this condition impacts certain relationships. He shared the following about the inspiration behind the song:

I have obsessive compulsive disorder and I started writing Left Side as a way to express how that feels; it quickly became a song about the way my OCD was affecting my relationship, and making it difficult for me to see the toxic expectations that were hurting me. It’s impossible to know someone perfectly. I wanted to convey the agony of being on the receiving end of that expectation—of a lover saying ‘you should know me like I do,’ and then withholding their affection when that's impossible to achieve.

Stream the track below!

You can purchase “Left Side” on Bandcamp or stream it on your platform of choice. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.

Photo by Rita Iovine