Passenger has a way with his words, as is evident in his latest single ‘The Way I Love You’.

Gentle, intuitive, and deeply touching, the song is a delicate ballad about love at its most fragile and kindest. Over eight years ago, the singer formally known as Michael Rosenberg moved us with his heart-rending melody ‘Let Her Go’ that explored themes of loss, nostalgia, and regret within the structure of a classic composition. That song connectedly deeply with the crowd as we realized how just a few profound chords on the acoustic guitar and a thoughtful, subdued tune could truly evoke the most powerful of emotions from within. 

Here again, Passenger doesn’t just approach the material through a surface-level lens; he employs a variety of instruments to establish a calm, gracious mood through the melody, so we are truly lulled into the passions emanating from his slow, deep vocals. The video accompanying the single features a young, red-haired woman going around the city of Paris with her camera, recording the lovely views she encounters, meeting and having conversations with strangers, and just more or less exploring a foreign city by herself. 

But what brings the message home is the uplifting words flowing in the background. Passenger isn’t just about expressing how much he loves this woman; he is also keen on conveying that he wants her to stay strong and keep on loving herself through following her passions and interests. Phrases such as ‘You don’t have to change a thing’ or ‘Don’t let life break your heart’ function as more than tender words belonging to that of a love song; those are key lessons that we can all relate to and apply to our own lives. 

All in all, there is something unique in how Passenger is able to navigate through the most complex challenges of relationships through the most delicate, temperate rhythms and tones. The latest single will also be featured in his upcoming album of the same name. The singer-songwriter is also set to go on a world tour through North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Here is hoping his live performances do just as well as hitting those emotional beats. 

 Singer-songwriter     Folk rock 

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.