Perfect World is the moniker of LA-based songwriter and visual artist Nathan Castiel. A first-generation American, he crafts oddball baroque pop songs inspired by the likes of Arthur Russell, Prefab Sprout and Haruomi Hosono. His humorously melancholy lyrics often explore his outsider perspective and mixed identity while his production takes as much influence from Nick Drake as it does from Max Martin.
On “Wrong” LA-based artist Perfect World brings a sound that hits all the points of a classic indie sound with a fresh and modern songwriting approach. With basic instrumentation of a few heavily distorted guitars, thumping bass, and loose stylized drumming that doesn’t feel overly busy Castiel manages to pull off making something rhythmically and dynamically fully engaging. His vocal delivery has a casual undertone while still being emotional enough to sell the story. Lyrically offbeat, the song is worth a few listens just to pick up on all the odd imagery and metaphors such as the opening lines, “Baked into the wedding cake again. Starts to feel like home, but if memory serves there’s a knife coming down. Turning my smile to a frown.”
