Ali Gatie’s latest single ‘Welcome Back’ would have been a pleasing, catchy tune on its own but Alessia Cara’s inclusion takes it to the next level.

The Canadian singer’s vocals have this effervescent ability at sounding both nonchalant and vulnerable;  a little sardonic, a little scared, and just the right amount of passion. It’s only right that she has teamed up with Ali Gatie, who’s quite versatile in his own right. Like his collaborator, he’s a Toronto-born Canadian, and his persona shines loud and clear in all his features. His earlier song ‘What If I Told You I Love You’ had the right amount of contemporary-pop magic; it had an immensely popular and repeatable refrain, which singlehandedly catapulted it to viral fame as it amassed over 20 million engagements on the social media platform TikTok. 

While this ballad isn’t as quiet as blatantly addictive as his previous feature, it’s also much more profound and thoughtful. As mentioned, credit must be given to Alessia Cara; her unique and instantly recognizable voice is headed straight for the listener’s attention. The song seemingly details the return of a loved one but it also touches upon the personal efforts needed to maintain and salvage a relationship as it begins to crumble under adversity. It’s a fairly standard love song but if one takes a closer look at the composition, they’ll notice that the song is packed with small production touches that really help build a mournful atmosphere. From the subtle chords on the guitar to the hollow vocals that make up the bridge, there is an undercurrent of regret, nostalgia, and sadness. 

The instrumental finishes in the background are so meaningful and moody that the song might have been more memorable if they were emphasized. Another possible blocker could be Ali Gatie’s occasional pitch fluctuations — the use of electronic layering can be a sensational choice for a certain number but for a heart-rendering ballad such as this, it falls flat at times. 

Speaking about working with Cara, Gatie said, “It’s cool because it’s my first feature and she’s such a dope Canadian artist, too. She did an amazing job and really made the song better..”

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.