Synth Single Review: “Stay With Me” by Woren, GMNI88, Shred Krueger & Tholos

by Karl Magi

Woren, GMNI88, Shred Krueger & Tholos’ “Stay With Me” is a plea for love that burns with need. The song commences as tender, hushed notes drift before an effulgent synth carries a brightly entangling melody. Echoing, luscious patterns ripple outward while sweeping chords expand richly below them. GMNI88’s sorrow-tinged vocals carry a melody that shivers with need.

As the drums leap with titanic propulsion, the chorus climbs, full of sincerity and pleading. The vocals charm me with their touching nature and compelling impact. GMNI88’s voice contains quivering emotion as it drifts through the music. In the distance, intermingling tonal patterns expand with tranquility before the tremulous vocals slide out again.

Breezy notes exhale while a synth drifts like ripples on a still pond. Intensely vibrating tones gather beneath the vocals, which rise with passion and pain above the foundational pulse. Shred Krueger’s guitar solo delves into loss and burning need with intricacy and impassioned strength. 

As the drums add support, the guitar unwinds in a rush of overwhelming feeling, cutting straight to the heart of the song’s meaning. As the song ends, the vocals fade with tenderness and loss.

The storyteller is lost in reverie about the song’s subject. His “cigarette won’t light itself,” and he burns it down to the filter as he pleads, “Stay with me for one more night, let the daylight draw your line.” He admits that the pain cuts both ways as he asks the other person to remain with him.

He notes that “these glasses won’t refill themselves,” musing that his tears “don’t taste as sweet as they do when I need you.” Though the song’s subject insists it’s the end, he wonders why it must be so, asking, “You say it’s the end, why can’t we just pretend?” before admitting that he isn’t ready yet.