"I feel like I've finally seen the light," said John Tinkelenberg, frontman of Beyond Confused.
Since 2019, the Charlotte-based project has been riding some creative momentum, releasing a batch of compelling singles.
The songs are as straight-forward pop rock as it gets with soaring melodies and 90's affectations. Debut single "Better Off on Mars" proved to be a solid, jangly introduction, followed by the heartfelt "Whole Lotta Words (Before You Get to Love)."
The latest release "Matching Tattoo" is a sleek, lamenting ballad ready for late-night drives and last calls. The song boasts Beyond Confused's best production to date, and it was a labor of love for Tinkelenberg, who doesn't even have a tattoo of his own.
"I started writing this sometime in college, but the subject matter was too much for a 21-year-old to grasp so I put it away," Tinkelenberg said. "I came back to it during the pandemic, and it finally made sense. I'm learning to let things simmer, and it's having a big pay-off."