Nottingham’s own synth-pop trio, The Cost of Loving, is back with a bang, releasing their latest single, ‘Esports Player’.
The trio, consisting of Jack Kwiecinski (vocals, synth, programming), Josef Bone (synth, programming), and Antony Onorati (bass, synth), draws inspiration from iconic synth acts like New Order, Pet Shop Boys, and Tame.
In ‘Esports Player’, The Cost of Loving treats us to another shimmering blend of indie-electronic pop, catchy wordplay, rhythmic synths, and infectious drum machine samples. Their distinctive 80s-flavored synth-pop soundscapes are on full display, featuring layers of analogue synth pads, plucky leads, a repeating bassline, and punchy electronic beats.
What sets ‘Esports Player’ apart is its melodic central hook, with lead vocals that dance gracefully above the soundscape, adding a striking commercial edge to the track. The band reveals that this song has consistently been a crowd favorite during their live performances, which made it an obvious choice for the lead single from their upcoming EP.
Lead vocalist Jack Kwiecinski shares some insights into the creation of ‘Esports Player’. He initially came up with the verse melody while driving on a dark motorway a few years ago. The song’s original opening line, “The streetlights run out; the cat’s eyes close,” was a play on the reflective studs on the motorway. However, the track was put on the creative backburner until the pandemic hit.
During the pandemic, Jack revisited the song, coinciding with a period when he was adjusting to working exclusively through digital means, like Microsoft Teams and instant messenger. This sparked a theme around the social isolation created by the digital age. The title ‘Esports Player’ reflects Jack’s fascination with the idea of people playing video games as a professional sport or filming themselves for their vast online audiences.
The recording process for ‘Esports Player’ was a unique experience. Jack wrote and laid down all the parts at home. He recorded the vocals at ROFL Studios in Nottingham, which, sadly, has since closed. Due to pandemic restrictions, he then sent the files to Lee McCarthy & Ady Hall (Sugar House) for mixing and production remotely. This remote collaboration mirrored the song’s theme of digital isolation, making it a fitting way to create the track.
