Thom Bullitt – Sunset [Single Review]

“Sunset” is the lead single from Thom Bullitt’s upcoming synth/hip-hop EP, Nightrider 2021, which is the official follow-up to his 2017 EP, Nightrider. 

Opening with descending arpeggiated light synth stabs among a wave of atmospheric pads in a minor key setting the scene for a four-to-the-floor melancholic drive that bases Thom Bullitt’s characteristic vocal delivery that always does something different to what you’d expect, mostly in terms of pitch and inflection.

As with all of Bullitt’s materials, the lyrics and vocals penetrate confidently throughout. As with several of his songs, the hook and verses seemingly flow as a unified whole, playing repetitively throughout, with looping additives and subtractives over the course of the song. All of the song’s elements weave harmoniously to sweep the listener into a fluctuating, wavey, rolling and riding atmosphere, skillfully communicating Bullitt’s messages about heading out into the unknown, “while I ride all night into the Sunset.”

The vocal reverb and call-and-response with the voice expanding to the sides and coming back to the middle operate as a strikingly balanced atmosphere with the sharply hitting drums down the middle, and the synth pads flowing around the sides.

All in all, a mesmerizing and soothing experience that gives a true feeling of heading down a long road into the sunset, Thom Bullitt invites the listener with him on a captivating trance-inducing entrance to a new dimension.

Stream Thom Bullitt – “Sunset” on Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/7m1h09ksygsQDFWQJiqg6l?si=qRvahWaWSkimbox7BzByDg&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1

Follow Thom Bullitt:

• Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/4jxeTxWKCXY8fib6kisBrf?si=s4Mi_DibTlWOp4eixQWvsA&utm_source=copy-link&dl_branch=1
• Instagram: @thombullitt
• TikTok: @thombullitt

About Thom Bullitt: Born April 1, 1994 in Houston, Texas, Thomas Rodney Oates, Thom Bullitt was primarily raised around Rock & Roll, Blues, and Pop, contrary to belief. In 2004, Thomas would move away from the big city life in Houston to a more relaxed life in Edmond, Oklahoma – a suburb just north of Oklahoma City; shortly after which, he discovered and fell in love with Hip-Hop. Thomas began writing songs in high school – the first of which came in 2010 – and was eventually labelled in the senior yearbook as “Most Likely To Move To Houston And Become A Rapper” by his classmates. Shortly after graduating high school in 2012, he began recording his songs, but it would take time for him to develop his own style and comfort within the music industry. Thomas released his first full-length EP in December 2015 titled ‘The Cooler King’ under the moniker Thom Bullitt – a self-chosen title utilizing his high school nickname derived from his love of classic Steve McQueen films as well as a creative take on the shortened version of the name Thomas. Over the next years, Bullitt would go on to release 2 more EPs – ‘Bricktown Nights’ in 2016 & ‘NIGHTRIDER’ in 2017; ‘NIGHTRIDER’ being created as a way to transition out of the music world. Following the release of ‘NIGHTRIDER’, Bullitt would take a nearly 3 year hiatus from music to rediscover himself while fighting a battle against depression and alcoholism.

Eventually, Bullitt decided to return to music, this time under the stage name Papillon – the French translation of butterfly, which was deemed fitting based on both mental and physical growth as well as a new sense of self-comfort in the world. Bullitt would release his first EP using the name Papillon in September of 2019 titled ‘Roses’, which was met with shock and curiosity due to the fact that this EP featured a more Country & Rock influence than his previous endeavors, which featured a heavy Dirty South Hip-Hop sound. Following the release of ‘Roses’, Bullitt would transition back into releasing new music under the Thom Bullitt moniker to avoid confusion and lower the risk of his music getting lost in someone else’s discography. With a new outlook on life and a renewed love for Hip-Hop and creating music, Bullitt chose to create a sequel EP to his 2015 release, titled ‘The Cooler King 2’, which went through many changes before eventually being released on October 5, 2020.

During his career, Bullitt would become one half of the Oklahoma City based hip-hop group Bacardi Gang, a title he still carries to this day even though the group is no longer actively working together. Accompanied by the catchphrase “LIVIN IT”, Bullitt has been keen to let his music speak for itself and is rarely seen actively using others to influence his progress, preferring instead to maintain a low profile and avoid drama letting the music itself take the spotlight.