If there's something Gully is proving with his new single, "New Kicks,' it's that sometimes, dancing your way through life is worth scraping up a brand new pair of shoes. This impossibly cool track exudes swagger and sincerity, pairing charm with vulnerability over lyrics that are both stingingly personal and immediately relatable. Gully's voice rides over the production as that of someone confident in who they are and what they want. There's a rawness and honesty in his delivery that cuts through, bringing depth to the lyrics.
He's singing about wanting it, about the gravity a person exerts on you that can defy even the brand-new shoes you promised yourself would stay spotless. The production on the track creates space for Gully to breathe and let his vocals feel as alive as they deserve. Nothing feels overdone. It's all minimal where it counts, giving both the melody room to drift and the rhythm time to hang like a night out. There's a closeness to it all, as if you're hearing a story murmured right in your ear, but one still built to prick up the collective ear so, for those who know the surpassing stupidity of throwing caution to a chill wind to be near somebody you don't even like any more.
What makes "New Kicks" so special is the characters baked right into the bars. Gully's voice is the character of the track. It's the generator that powers the entire experience. He sells that moment, letting each line land with quiet certainty and a moment of appeal. In a universe of singles that all seem to be trying too hard to catch a vibe, "New Kicks" is the rare one that is the vibe. It's an enticing vocal and a feeling we've all had at some point. Gully asks us to the dance floor and meets us there.