Brandon Frizzell’s “Distracted” is less a song than it is a mirror. It reflects a culture consumed by glowing screens and endless scrolling, a world where human connection often feels like an afterthought. Recorded in his home studio in Waukesha, Wisconsin, the track captures both the intimacy and isolation of its subject matter, translating modern detachment into something hauntingly melodic. Frizzell doesn’t just sing about distraction; he embodies it, dissecting the tension between wanting to connect and being perpetually pulled away.
Musically, “Distracted” feels stripped down yet intentional. Frizzell builds the song around a simple progression that loops like the endless refresh of a feed, grounding his voice in warm, organic production that contrasts with its digital theme. The guitar strums breathe with unhurried precision, leaving space for his lyrics to land with quiet weight. There’s a tenderness in his delivery that recalls artists like Bon Iver or early Ben Howard, but Frizzell’s tone carries a more grounded sense of realism. It’s the voice of someone who has looked too long at the screen’s glow and started to question what’s left in the shadows.
The song’s emotional charge deepens once you learn its inspiration. Frizzell wrote “Distracted” after witnessing the public reaction to the assassination of political figure Charlie Kirk. Rather than turning to outrage, he turned inward, processing the chaos through melody. What emerged is a meditation on empathy in an era where tragedy is often reduced to headlines and hashtags. Frizzell’s songwriting doesn’t moralize; it observes. He captures that subtle ache of living in a time where everything, even grief, competes for attention.
Lyrically, “Distracted” moves between confession and commentary. Lines about “being lost in the static” and “forgetting how to listen” linger like echoes of collective anxiety. There’s vulnerability here, not in the grand declarations but in the quiet recognition that none of us are immune. His refrain—part lament, part reminder—suggests that technology’s grip isn’t inherently evil, but our complacency might be. The track’s power lies in that honesty. It doesn’t ask for a solution; it simply invites us to notice the problem.
Frizzell’s production choices emphasize that duality. The vocals are mixed close, almost claustrophobic, while the instrumentation remains airy and open, creating a push and pull that mirrors the song’s central theme. The bridge, where his voice rises above the instrumentation, feels like a brief attempt at escape before the calm returns. It’s subtle, deliberate, and deeply human. You can almost hear the weight of realization in his tone—a weary acceptance of how deep the distractions go.
“Distracted” might not scream for attention in the way most singles do, and that’s precisely its strength. Frizzell offers a song that rewards stillness, asking listeners to pause and consider the noise that defines modern life. In a time when connection is measured by engagement and validation by likes, “Distracted” feels like an act of quiet rebellion. It’s both a critique and a confession, and in its restraint lies its resonance. For a debut of this nature, Brandon Frizzell proves that clarity, not volume, is what cuts through the static.
Featured Images: Artist Supplied
