“Hurricane” by Anson Seabra

Many articles include “TikTok star” somewhere in singer-songwriter Anson Seabra’s title, giving the impression that he’s all about the views and the likes. Such is not the case. He uses social media as a vehicle to show his fans the songwriting process, both on TikTok and Instagram Live where he performs covers and plays around with new notes and lyrics. “There is nothing I want more” than having Seabra perform what seems like a personal concert as I lie cozy under my covers at 11 p.m.

“Hurricane” might technically fall under an acoustic indie pop love ballad genre, but it’s about more than a lost lover. First of all, he has next to no instruments or background vocals to hide his voice behind, which is a risky move as it’s still part of the pop genre, but he rocks it. His voice is the entire tone of the song. Yes, you wouldn’t party to this song. Yes, it might initially cause your friends’ concern when they see you listening to it in the middle of the night on their Spotify Friends Activity. Yes, you listen to them when you’re sad. But despite the depressing lyrics, they make you feel better. He sings like an actual baby angel. Close your eyes and listen to him, just him, and I swear you will feel like you are being swaddled and held and no harm will come to you.

In his pre-chorus he sings, “And even when the wind would roar / You were such a perfect storm.” “Hurricane” isn’t really about a lost love. It’s about the duality of something that hurts you, but you love it anyway. It’s about reckoning with your spiraling thoughts. It could be about failing, and knowing you’ve learned, but still feeling like you’re not worth it. It could be about how 2020 has been absolutely awful in every conceivable fashion, but still contained some of your happiest memories. Whatever feelings his lyrics bring up, his voice immediately tells you everything is going to be okay. This is just what we all needed in 2020: someone to tell us it’s going to be okay.