Motivating, tranquil and content

“Don’t Give Up” is Norwegian artist William Hut’s first single of 2023. The single is ‘80s synth pop inspired which is very similar to his past works and aligns with his established, familiar indie pop sound. It is quite on the short side lasting only about two minutes but Hut is able to make an impact in a small amount of time. The song has a calm yet motivating vibe. His tone is gentle, but the lyrics encourage the listener to not give up in the face of whatever they are going through. It is a song of peace in the midst of anxiety and low self worth. It’s a perfect single to begin 2023 and encourage the listeners to begin the year on a strong note.  

The song stays pretty consistent throughout the two minutes and the sound does not diversify a ton. Since the single is reminiscent of ‘80s synth pop classics, the base of the song is synths. The entire song is made up primarily of synths, vocals and an electronic drum beat. He uses his voice as a pad to add another layer of texture to the sweet and soft vocals. The vocals are intended to pop out in the mix as the lyrics are the main focus of the song. He uses reverb to add to the ‘80s synth pop vibe but also to create an incredibly raw and unparalled emotional sound. The simple instrumental also allows for the vocals and lyrics to stand out. The chorus picks up and leads to a small break until the next verse. In the last chorus, the background vocals appear to be Hut holding out a high note to create a euphoric ending. 

With a discography going back all the way to 2001, Hut continues to prove himself as a strong performer even more than two decades later.