Hazlett tracks a cycle of self-destructive patterns on new song “The First Train Home”

Acoustic folk singer Hazlett’s latest single “The First Train Home” details his self-destructive patterns through his soft and sweet voice layered to maximum glacé over quiet guitar strumming. From the very beginning of the song, Hazlett declares he’d “rather be sad”. The track maintains a gloomy sound and attitude throughout, largely keeping within the singer’s hushed vocal tone and quasi-Western guitar. His voice makes it difficult at times to decode the lyrics, especially given the multi-layered vocal arrangement.

Hazlett’s vulnerability is particularly evident in the last third of the song in lines such as “Can you come over and just fill up the space? / Then I’ll say I’m sorry / When I push you away.” The song’s lyrics complement the dreary-sounding guitar strumming and the singer displays a clear emotionally drained disposition. Hazlett sounds beaten up by life and defeated across the song, admitting that he’s, “Too tired of waiting / Take the first train home”. He may sound worn down and as if the world’s gone gray, but the product of that grayness reaches listeners in a chill, user-friendly manner.