18-year-old ATLien Demo Taped melds R&B sensibilities with inventive synth sculpting for a sound all his own. “Stay” is a paragon of what he’s capable of. His velvety tenor floats over 8-bit Super Mario synth flourishes, deep synth bass, and just enough swing to keep the R&B vibes off-kilter. Vocalist Amber Mark darkens the mood beautifully as well. It’s easy to gloss over her lyrics, but their deceptive potency won’t let you. The track aesthetically sounds like it belongs on a baby-making playlist with its smooth, sultry edges, but it’s actually about something much deeper and harder to process. Here’s what Demo Taped had to say about the stirring song:

“Stay” is about loss. It is trying to cope and move on, but also a plea for things to stay the same. I’ve always been afraid of change and I’d say that’s what the song represents to me. I’m so happy that Amber Mark is a part of the record. She captured the mood and meaning of the song perfectly.

Listen.