Nineteen - Rum
By Irina Atanasiu
London-based alternative-pop duo Rum made up of Saro Rafi Manoukian and Fimi Rafi Manoukian have returned with a brand new single following the release of their debut album ‘Beneath the Giants’ earlier this year. Their new track ‘Nineteen’ explores the feeling of being stuck in one place while time is passing by.
’Nineteen’ is a soft rock hit reminiscent of acts such as Billy Joel and The Beatles. The song features soulful vocals coupled with a beautifully composed piano-driven melody. The acoustic guitar serves as a perfect accompaniment to the piano throughout the song, with percussion kicking in halfway through the track and complementing the main melody wonderfully. The vocal harmonies present in ‘Nineteen’ further deepen the emotional impact of the track.
Lyrically, ‘Nineteen’ is a very strong track with a great degree of relatability. The lyric “I’ll be nineteen and not one step closer to my dream” which repeats several times throughout the song serves as a memorable hook and emphasises the main message of the song of feeling unfulfilled and unaccomplished as one gets older.
Overall, ‘Nineteen’ is a thematically relevant, high-quality track that is bound to resonate with many listeners. I am eager to see what else this emerging British band have in store for the future.