2018 marks a ‘Decade of the Thundakat’, and homegrown hip-hop trio Thundamentals are celebrating their 10-year career by creating more infectious, instantly memorable music.
In celebration the boys dropped their new and very different single I Miss You a few weeks back. Co-produced with Sydney multi-instrumentalist Carl Dimataga (Khalid), it’s a chance for the group to discuss friendships that have dissolved over time, and the role that social media has played in creating a false sense of connection.
“You lose touch with reality if you’re just looking at social media”, Jeswon says. “I feel like it’s great to stay connected in the superficial sense and see what your friends are doing, but it’s also kind of toxic. You forget that everyone is going through the ups and the downs. All you’re seeing is the ups”.
I Miss You is a poignant reflection on the fractured state of personal relationships in 2018. With playful piano keys bouncing throughout, the lyrics reference past mates with a hint of nostalgic regret; leaving the listener with a powerful, bittersweet tang. Alongside rap-driven verses, clapping beats and gospel-esque chants build into the cathartic hook; “I miss you”, Tuka sings with melodic directness. “What happened to all of my friends?” It’s a lament that’s sure to resonate with an Instagram-obsessed generation; one that’s more connected than ever digitally, but ultimately alone.
Jeswon says that he hopes the track will inspire listeners to rekindle those real-life connections that have fallen to the wayside. “I’m more trying to engage in actual real life, as uncool as that is. I find that within my own social circles, I’m physically seeing my friends less and less”, he says. “I’m addicted to my phone like everyone is… It’s a proclamation: I miss you“.
