Midsummer Ex - Fake It Till You Make It

Review by Karl Magi

Overall Album Impressions

Midsummer Ex’s Fake It Till You Make It combines dynamic energy, emotional complexity and melodic joy as it unfolds. A surge of '80s sounds mingles with the artist’s songwriting abilities and intricately interwoven synth layers to produce an album that roams across broad territory and creates engaging, entertaining music.

One of the standout features of Fake It Till You Make It for me is the sheer liveliness it exudes. In between the well-chosen synths, active percussion and dance floor energy, the music is a hell of a lot of fun to listen to and complements the poppy feelings it radiates. I really enjoy the '80s sounds as they unfold here.

Another strong element of Fake It Till You Make It for me is Midsummer Ex’s songwriting. He moves from fairly light-hearted pieces to music that is much more deep and emotive, exploring more serious themes. Whatever mode he's in, Midsummer Ex is able to draw me in and fill me with sensation as his songs unfold. I'm enamored with the journey he takes me on throughout the album.

The way in which the various synth sounds are combined also creates lush depth. Each intertwining sound complements the others and as they come together, they create sonic beauty and interest. As the synths interweave, they carry the well-composed melodies that fill this album. Midsummer Ex has a knack for emotionally powerful, easily hummable melodic lines that I find intensely ear-pleasing.

My Favourite Songs Analyzed

“Hollywood Star” begins with the sound of clicking cameras before cascading synth brings a melancholy quality and shining notes gleam. The sound of a radio tuning jumps into a hard-driving low-end pulse with drums and bass locked into propulsive motion.

A circling arpeggio glistens as Midsummer Ex’s delicate, heartfelt vocals glide with the dreamy melody and the low end pushes forward. The singer captures the strange desire in the vocals above the broken low-end pulse. Broadly moving drums move with the resonant vocals, carrying the passion within the words.

The drums are huge and add strength as gliding notes unfurl with indigo light. They move in uneven lines as the vocals slip past continuing to press on with dynamic bass as Midsummer Ex draws me in with his deeply felt performance. The vocal melody is fragile and warm, contrasting with the unsettling feeling in the words.

Drums continue to explode as swirling notes intermingle and clapping percussion adds shape. As the chorus reaches out, Midsummer Ex's enfolding voice carries the mournful and lightly caressing melody. Glowing notes wash through the music as the colossal bass intermingles. As the song comes to an end, the mixture of shadow and twisted affection fades into silence.

The narrator talks about watching the object of his obsession wake up and drink tea, taking their morning pills as he adds, "Life is hard in Beverly Hills." The nature of his dark attraction to the song's subject is clear as he says, "I'm watching you into the night time. When you drive, I follow your car," adding that he always knows where they are. The narrative takes an even darker turn as the narrator says, "One day you'll disappear, no more pain and no more fear, lost in the final frontier."

Our storyteller describes feeling as if he's been "touched by your sunshine," while calling the object of his obsession his "wonder love." He adds that making people believe in the song's subject is a "state of art," pointing out that the other person is his Hollywood star. He encourages them to "fake it till you make it" and take their evening pills, which is "the only way to get your thrills.” He talks about the song's subject "swinging from the chandelier, waiting for the final tear,” as they lose another year.

As the song concludes, the narrator describes the song's subject standing on the shoreline, "so cold in the dark." Chillingly, after calling them his wonder love again, he says, "They will never find you, the one final spark," as he declares that the other person was a Hollywood star "born to fall apart."

A distantly flashing synth cascades in twirling motion as a digitally crying melodic pattern moves above seething bass as “Be Here Now (jacket. Remix)” opens. A suspenseful feeling fills the synth as Midsummer Ex’s softly drifting vocals carry a soothing melody above a punchy kick drum.

Mournful emotion fills the vocals, transmitting the feeling of the lyrics with clarity and sensitivity. A glistening synth floats with uplifting joy as the drums add power and Midsummer Ex grabs hold of the song's meaning and sends it home.

The drums are colossal as a brilliant synth irradiates the music with luminosity. Distantly chiming notes float as Midsummer Ex cries out again, mingling emotion with his fresh voice. A windy sweep joins hard-hitting drums as brightness suffuses the music.

The chorus flies out again, adding a positive element while glimmering notes intertwine. The drums rebound in uneven motion as sparkling notes spin and the bass rumbles. The vocalist takes me along with him as he expresses himself. Crystalline notes in the distance join rising sonic clouds as the drums drive. Chimes shimmer and trumpeting notes flare before the song comes to an end.

Our storyteller talks about a "dream that is shining on the horizon," as a mixtape he made for the song's subject keeps playing. He adds, "I can't see with the lights in my eyes, you been crying," as he observes that the other person keeps on driving like they always do.

The narrator speaks of riding into the "dusky moonlight" as they "speed up the holy midnight on our way." He talks about an ever-ending summer and says, "So what if we're pretending," because he'll always stay.

"There's no time, there's no end to these summer night feelings, my friend," is what the storyteller tells the song’s subject. He adds, "This is how—be here now." He speaks about the two of them in the car that the song’s subject won. As “Winds of Change” by Scorpions plays, there are "nostalgic echoes from a long time ago."

He concludes, "Don’t be nervous. Once you have been found, you’re never alone."

“Always 1985” begins as serene synth slips in with gossamer lightness. The drums start to throb with a powerful beat as the bass drives forward and Midsummer Ex’s rich voice carries the dreaming melody. The drums and bass press on as the smooth, touching vocals glide with deep sensations, while a bell-like synth gleams above.

The nostalgic wistfulness of the music draws me in and carries me along, full of wonderful emotion. The drums and bass continue to pulsate as the sparkling synth pours into the music. The vocals have a diaphanous delicacy that reaches out to carry the emotion of the lyrics.

The steady rhythm pushes forward while the soothing melody floats. An accent of warm notes rings out as Midsummer Ex transmits the sense of remembrance in the song. The beat has a classic '80s sound, fitting perfectly with the overall atmosphere. The melody then calls out on a glittering synth, radiating uplift and misty memory before the track ends with a guitar strum and the sound of a disconnected phone number.

The narrator speaks about the fear we have—that we all need to stand alone—as he tells the song’s subject that he needs them, that he won't make it on his own. He points out that “for all the years now, the grass has overgrown,” as they were always waiting for something to occur. He asks the other person to “come over here so I can see you again.”

Reminiscence fills our storyteller as he talks about the way they drove into the sunset, “a magic feeling we will never forget.” He points out that, for whatever it was worth, it was the best time of his life. He recalls them taking a chance and dancing “in the street lights” as they made their way out of their haunted town. He continues, “deep in my heart it's always 1985.”

The narrator talks about melodies that take him down memory lane as he concludes: “Now I know things will never be the same. Bittersweet, all good things must come to an end.”

Immense bass throbs and medium-high synth flashes out in embracing chords to open “Missing You”. Delicate notes sparkle and smoothly shining synth repeats a melodic pattern. Midsummer Ex’s uplifting voice carries an reassuring melody out over huge retro drums and undulating bass.

Midsummer Ex’s gentle voice is hopeful as a distantly glowingsynth trickles above propulsive drums and oscillating bass. Medium-high, glistening synth dances through and the upbeat vocal melody is carried on the vocals’ caressing warmth.

Heavy drums drive on and the gliding synth pattern repeats. The tremulous, tender vocal melody moves through as drums drop away and gigantic bass throbs to a conclusion along with a flitting arpeggio.

Our storyteller talks to the song’s subject about how the “mind can pull through” when they feel depressed and bereft. He reminds the other person to try and find their inner strength and then “you know it will be alright.” He adds that the other person’s got to “live and learn” to perceive it and a great deal of strength to heal. The need for healing is like oxygen “but it’s gonna be alright tonight.”

The narrator points out that the other person has to find the light and keep fighting. He says that everyone has to try and spread “a little love and sunshine” in life or we’ll see our dreams fade away. There’s a strong image of loss as the narrator says that “I'll be missing you like the shadows in the night” when the other person is gone.

The other person feels “abused and lonely” according to the storyteller. He adds that “we are losing you so slowly” and asks what the other person’s testimony will be. Our storyteller isn’t sure if they’ll both be okay.

He talks about sitting in Stockholm, browsing and looking at gravestones. He still feels that all will be well in the end. As the song ends, he talks about how “echoes travel very far” to the other person’s guitar being strummed. He concludes that, “I'll be listening when you’re gone.”

“Stuck on Repeat” starts with crackling static as a clock ticks and dramatic strings call out with sweeping emotion. The low end pulses with a dancy rhythm as Midsummer Ex’s softly emotive voice carries the aching melody with tremulous feeling. The low end continues to punch as the strings shine with luminosity, while distant trumpeting notes climb and add radiant life.

Gigantic drums now erupt with even more dynamism as the synth entangles with scintillating positivity. The depth of feeling Midsummer Ex captures pushes deep into my heart with affecting sensations, while the ticking clock and massive kick drum pulse underneath. The chorus shines with longing, as the low end is accented by gleaming synth notes frolicking above it. As the song ends, chimes ring out alongside the huge drums.

The narrator says that both he and the song's subject realize summer is almost at an end and that "we don't have the autumn, winter and spring." He urges them to understand that time is getting shorter and "we are longing in an endless dream."

Both characters face "the same good old pain, the same old refrain," as the storyteller points out that it's the same game all over again. He adds they are "stuck on repeat," because things never seem to reach an ending or feel complete.

The narrator and the song's subject both wanted freedom as they were "starting over again this midsummer eve." He speaks of the flowers beneath the subject's pillow, which will be frozen "as winter breaks and bends." He concludes with a poignant line: "Countless hours sleep, you little willow, all the frostbites will one day fade away."

Solid drums throb while glinting chimes carry a hurting melody to commence “I Never Saw It Coming”. The drums continue to pulse as the rich low end chords move with the twinkling higher notes. Midsummer Ex’s voice carries a contemplative ache as the drums throb and the chiming notes sparkle.

Midsummer Ex takes hold of my emotions with his warming voice and sense of longing. The vocals slip past as the gleaming notes flare with luminous tenderness. A sense of time passing quickly is reflected in the vocals as the drum and bass pulse continues. As the chimes flicker, the rebounding low end presses onward. Serene synth carries the melody, which wistfully wonders as the snare drums throb and the bass flows. As the song ends, Midsummer Ex's voice is fragile and lost.

The teller of this tale has been awake for a while, trapped in indecision. He has the world in his hands if he chooses to, but he is "lost in my mind." He talks about having "all this precious time" in which he knows what to do if he wants it. He explains that what he wants—and what he can't resist—is "holding on to that kiss."

Our narrator didn't see the relationship coming. It came without warning and he adds, "there's so much I want to say, but the time’s slipping away." He points out that the other person is never going to hear him calling. He's "been up all night" because he can't hide the romance they're in, as he asks, "is it still true?"

Now the storyteller says that they've been "in the dirt" and in the sky and he goes on to say, "if you want to be found, then I'll find you." He concludes that the other person will never see him falling or crawling.

“Digital World” starts as the kick drum thumps and a minor key synth washes with dramatic tension. The low end pumps with dancefloor-filling dynamism as synth whorls intermingle with indigo light. The low end has a smooth swing to it as Midsummer Ex embodies the disconnected sensations within the lyrics. The synth spills out radiance as it moves with the throbbing low end.

As the synth winds out with gentle smoothness, the low end continues to press on. The vocals are tinged with a sense of emptiness and regret for an unbridgeable gap. Trumpeting notes brim with sunlight as Midsummer Ex touches me with his vocal expression. Shining notes spill out and intermingle as the low end continues to throb. Arpeggios twirl as shimmering notes wash through the music, while the drums and bass continue to pulse. The low end has a groovy feeling as the string-like synth flashes out. As the song comes to an end, Midsummer Ex carries the floating melody to a close with his calming voice.

The narrator talks about feeling love so strong that it "carries on like a drum" in the night. He says you can dance until the morning light as the beat goes "on and on and on." He continues by saying, "you're a digital boy, oh so electronical," and "an analog girl, so lonely in the digital world."

Our storyteller says the situation is happening so rapidly and "the beat goes on when all is said and done,” but their connection was never made to last because it's "too cynical, not physical enough."

Smoothly flowing synth carries a melody full of regretful nostalgia to begin “One More Light.” As the touching melody moves, Midsummer Ex's painfully aware voice carries the caressing vocal line. The drums are powerful and deep as the aching vocals float past. The drums continue to drive as tranquil synth shines and Midsummer Ex pierces my heart with the depth of loss in his voice.

The low end bursts continuously as a glimmering synth traces through the music and the vocals are hurting while the interlocking synth spills out tenderness. The drum beat is shaping while the synth fills the music with an enfolding embrace. Now the bass trips heavily as ethereal notes float airily into the distance. The drums pound again and Midsummer Ex imbues his voice with reminiscence and remorse as the drums fall silent.

Our storyteller castigates himself as he says he should have stayed and wonders if there were signs you'd ignored. He asks, *“Can I help you not to hurt anymore?”* He recalls that together they “solved brilliance when the world was asleep,” and points out that there are things we’re able to have but we can’t keep.

The narrator reflects that if people say, *“Who cares if one more light goes out in the sky of a million stars,”* or ask who cares when a person's time runs out, *“if a moment is all we are,”* his simple answer is that *he* does.

When someone is gone from our lives, the storyteller says that “the reminders pull the floor from your feet,” and there's an empty chair in the kitchen that you no longer need. He goes on to say, *“You’re angry and you should be. It’s not fair.”* He reminds us that just because you can’t see something, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

“747” begins with a rather portentous-sounding, heavily throbbing bass and delicately swirling synth that grows in power. As the vocals glide in, they are even more tender than Kent’s original, with a tremulous feeling of a tenuous grip. The drums continue to undulate as the vocals shiver with pained emotion. Rather than the resonating xylophone of the original, the cover uses tentatively sparkling chimes.

The drums kick in with an undeniably active beat above the low end. I enjoy the way Midsummer Ex puts his own unique sound into the heart-rending vocals. Chimes shimmer with crystalline light as the low end continues to throb and the vocals carry the yearning melody. The melancholy within Midsummer Ex's voice is touching as the continually twirling synth flickers.

Longing pours from the vocal performance as the drums punch and the hovering synth exudes gem-like light, while widely cutting notes blare and the sound of an airplane announcement to fasten your seatbelt comes in. The drums continue to pulsate and again Midsummer Ex cries out with an engaging feeling while the chimes flare and the track fades into silence.

The song explores the tension between quiet despair and violent release, using the metaphor of "silence like a whisper" to convey emotional detachment. The narrator reflects on pain inflicted by someone close as he says “it won’t hurt when the killing’s done by a friend.”

He expresses a desire for escape, underscored by urgency and finality: “we ran out of time, leaving all behind.” A haunting contrast between numbness and intensity, culminates in a yearning for liberation through suffering as he says, “maybe this time it will bleed until I’m free.”

Conclusion

Fake It Till You Make It engages my heart and soul along with my sense of groove and rhythm. The way in which Midsummer Ex combines synthwave, synth pop and fascinating auditory textures with seriously infectious beats results in music which is massively enjoyable. The addition of emotional depth only makes for an even better listening experience.