The musical talents of South London newcomer Hudson Scott became apparent at an early age. Having borrowed a trumpet from a local brass band at the budding age of seven, he took to the instrument quite readily (refusing to return it, in fact) and soon began to devour records by the greats such as Miles Davis and Chet Baker. His career thus began as a sideman, serving as a backing musician for Foals, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs et al., eventually stepping into the limelight with his debut EP Clay earlier this year.
He’s just revealed the glittering new track “Panning For Gold,” co-produced by Rodaidh McDonald (The xx, Låpsley) and Duncan Tootill. It’s an under-the-radar love song, radiating with ’80s pop sensibilities and modern electronic flourishes. In a confessional manner, the artist makes an appeal for a fundamentally human yet increasingly elusive need — ‘Truth be told, I’d like to fall in love, I’m panning for gold,’ he sings.
Conceding as much, Scott says: “‘Panning For Gold’ is about looking for love, sensing that it’s about to arrive and then doing your best not to trip yourself over. It’s about that initial excitement when you first meet someone great, when you’ll do whatever, put yourself out all the time, just to hang out. I don’t want to sound like a doe-eyed sadsack, but it is what it is.”
To the contrary — it’s refreshing and disarming vulnerability — in a way that is not excessively saccharine. Enjoy below.
poetry in an empty coke can 