Single Review: Autopilot by A-Zal
Review by Kaylan Rotman
New York’s own “American Ed Sheeran” is back at it again with his new single “Autopilot”.
Independent pop singer A-Zal takes us on a journey coasting through the clouds where life seems to go on without having to dodge nails in the road or forge paths through the trees- essentially forfeiting control and intentionality. But does that mean he left something behind? He can’t seem to shake the question - is this type of lazy river “golden” life worth the sacrifice of someone who felt like home? Is the grass really greener on the other side?
Following his two recent singles, funky bass-packed tune “Movie Script” and love ballad “Lonely Town”, A-Zal continues to display his impressive ability to express fervor spanning across multiple tempos, curating different vibes for any mood. “Autopilot” follows the slower suit and bittersweet storyline of “Lonely Town”, taking us through his memories with that someone special, and his regret of sacrificing the secure and belonging relationship for a life that puts him on autopilot.
The song opens with a catchy acoustic riff and dives into consciousness of the first verse. A-Zal thinks out loud about what he’s looking for in his life, moving on to open up about repentance and apologies about the letting go of a past relationship that had felt like home. The soft guitar and compassionate lyrics intertwine as the verse comes to an end, evoking a beautiful bittersweet battle of emotion; A-Zal’s regret for trading home for a seemingly luxurious cruise controlled life in the fast lane. This theme continues through each verse, every time exploring repentance and longing for the path he didn’t choose. His vocals are clearly the leading instrument, but the music ensemble harmoniously supports the journey of climbing up from a happy nostalgic feel to an epic vehicle of reflection. When “Autopilot” reaches the chorus, the vibe of the song reaches a peak with the introduction of percussion, emphasizing his intense contrition in choosing his life as an artist over his soulmate.
“Autopilot” launches as a precursor to A-Zal’s upcoming debut album as an independent artist, “17 & 11 Nights”, which is expected to release in 2024. The single teases his emotive road trip through upcoming tracks “Vegas”, “Ride”, and “Phonebook”, amongst others. A-Zal’s campaign as a pop singer has been impressive from the start- charting with his track “Movie Script” in the 51st spot on the Mediabase TOP 40 Activator Charts as one of three independent artists in the top 51.
This chapter in his musical career is the second stop on his journey as A-Zal is continuously evolving from Marvel Television Series’ film composer to relatable musical storyteller. A-Zal has expressed he believes life should be experienced as if it were a cinematic masterpiece, so it’s an exciting time to be following the singer as he continues to connect with his listeners all over the world by sharing a cinematic masterpiece, through his own lens. “Autopilot”, A-Zal shows the world that it’s okay to break open and mirror your own soul to the world by capturing and sharing your own story with such vulnerability.
“Autopilot” is available to stream anywhere you listen to music and is accompanied by an intimate music video on Youtube.
Be sure to follow A-Zal on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok to keep up along as he charges into 2024 and to his album release with great momentum!
