New Music: Make Believe Love – Kisses/Hugs

Namechecking Johnny Cash and Stevie Wonder in your lyrics seems a brave move, but once you hear the indie bop sounds of Kisses/Hugs by Make Believe Love, you will be instantly disarmed by its deceptive, off-kilter charm.

There’s a lot going on in the lyrics, which we won’t spoil for you – well, maybe a little. It has a camp yet sharp quality to it in the way it fuses death, love, and drugs into a bracing guitar pop jam, which highlights the song’s internal contrasts even more. Should something so dark sound so much fun?

Kisses/Hugs can also be heard on Apple Music and YouTube Music. Catch up with Make Believe Love – the solo project of Lucas Berman – on Instagram to uncover more of his delightful musical mix of grit and glamour.