Channings slows things down with moody new tune ‘Why You Leaving’.

Over the past few months, we’ve been drip-fed new singles from multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Tim Commandeur under the alias Channings. Each single so far—all of which are from an upcoming EP—has revealed a different and deeper level of his artistry, with today’s release dipping into the world of trip-hop while staying true to the sonically lush electronica he’s previously delivered.

Listening to ‘Why You Leaving,’ it’s hard not to imagine one of those super-literal, choppy slow-motion video clips that were the flavour of the early ’90s, as Channings laments a love lost. The Why you leaving hook is simple, but it’s elevated by the moody harmony and an exquisite sense of tension—he knows exactly when to pull the trigger.

For all the instrumentation delicately woven into the piece, it’s the piano that enters during the final third of the song that pushes everything further. And, despite knowing that this version of the song will go off live, it also makes you wonder if there’s a completely stripped-back rendering on a laptop somewhere that’s equally alluring…

“I wrote ‘Why You Leaving?’ during a time when I was deep into trip-hop and downtempo, melancholic music that started to really influence my creative process—the raw and immersive emotions of the genre drew me in. As this music bed evolved, I felt a sense of detachment intertwined with longing—almost like a nostalgic ache,” Channings says. “As I developed the storyline of this character with a sense of Stockholm Syndrome, I felt it captured what the music was trying to say perfectly.”

Stay tuned for more from Channings—his EP is due sometime next month—and head here to follow him on Instagram.