Prateek opens up about growing older in his new release, “All the Stars.” The country-folk single was recorded in September 2019 but released this October. It’s tender and vulnerable, and it’s on repeat this week, no matter how emotional it makes me.
The Boston-based artist tells me that the song was written at a point when he was afraid of life’s ‘what ifs,’ of all the things he’s yet to do.
“I guess it’s really not just about getting older, but older and sadder. And looking back on your youth as ‘wasted time,’” he says.
Prateek played the demo for producer Sean McLaughlin, who brought it to life in the studio, with the help of a full band and Taylor Holland and Heather Scott of Hawthorn, who provided some wonderfully atmospheric backing vocals.
Prateek is an expert lyricist and songwriter, and has demonstrated that he’s fine-tuned his craft with “All the Stars.” The track feels like it’s mourning an endless summer. It’s wistful and bittersweet, as nostalgia often is.
At the moment, Prateek is prioritizing releasing singles, though a full-length album is still part of his plan.
“I’d love to record a full-length studio album, and still very much plan to do so,” he tells me. “But it costs so much money up front to make that happen. Releasing singles and live albums is cheaper. And at the end of the day, ‘All the Stars’ is a song I’m really proud of and that I really wanted to release, album be damned.”
Until then, he’s focusing on his weekly Patreon livestream, “Sunday Sweatpant Sessions,” as a way to stay connected with his fans in the absence of in-person shows.
Check out the newly released lyric video for “All the Stars,” hand painted by Lisa Bastoni, here.
