Camp Kimono Records (label)
29 January 2025 (released)
29 January 2025
Dutch star Goldkimono provides perky pleading on new single ‘Lifetime’
Love it or loathe it, social media has become an inescapable part of modern life. According to the digital firm Kepios, there were “5.22 billion social media users around the world at the start of October 2024.” Platforms like Facebook, Twitter (now daftly renamed X), and others like them demonstrate the power of social media to connect people across the globe, fostering friendships and exchanging ideas. However, these same platforms often spread misinformation, hatred, and drain people’s time and energy.
Fortunately, singer-songwriter Goldkimono (Martijn ‘Tienus’ Konijnenburg) offers a reprieve from doom-scrolling with his uplifting new single, ‘Lifetime’.
“This ain’t your timeline, this is your lifetime. Look up.”
The unashamedly on-the-nose chorus lays its premise plain and energetically delivers its message, urging listeners to disconnect from the virtual world and reconnect with real life.
Goldkimono, whose 2022 debut album has amassed over 40 million Spotify streams, urges listeners to lift their heads and connect on a deeper level.
Across the four-minute-plus track, the lyrics touch on the everyday stresses of modern life. From work pressures to social media distractions, the song reminds us of how often we lose sight of what truly matters. Goldkimono sings:
“I’m late for work, don’t mess with my honour,
You can walk the mile from Tolle to Chopra,
You can text with Jesus down in America.”
The battle for a fair work-life balance, as well as the ills of social media, have long been examined, but Goldkimono brings his own vocal verve and enthusiasm to this familiar territory.
Having written for both his own projects and for other artists like Kygo (Firestone), Goldkimono brings his experience to bear. His lyrics offer a gentle reminder to pick your head up once in a while. While the verses don’t delve deeply into specific issues, they remain relatable. Most people have felt overwhelmed by the stresses of daily life or been caught in a spiral of online negativity.
The song serves as a warm, impassioned tap on the shoulder rather than a stern lecture.
A large part of the track’s charm lies in its vibrant production. Tapping tin, jovial drums, and languid guitar create an atmosphere of happy contentment.
The track builds into a lively, bouncy, funky offering. Alongside the more conventional musicianship, the ear can pick out something that sounds like the squawking of a bird. Add in a chirpy pan flute and ‘Lifetime’ takes on an air of natural beauty. It feels as if you’re strolling through a beautiful rainforest without a care in the world.
And that tapping tin sound mentioned earlier? It’s actually a barstool the band found in the studio. This unconventional approach adds a small yet important early component to the catchy concoction.
Co-produced with Tim Bran (London Grammar), ‘Lifetime’ conjures the feeling of lounging on a beach in front of a crystal blue ocean. If the lyrics are the medicine, the music is the sugar that makes it go down—though it’s hardly a bitter pill to swallow.