Che Arthur’s Sever Cuts Through Modern Isolation with Grit and Grace

I knew I'd come across Che Arthur before. But, to be completely honest, I had to dig into my archives to find out when. It was February last year, and the Chicago-based musician's gritty and heartfelt single No Harbor had just entered my sonic universe. Proudly declaring it a "potent and authentic glimpse into Che's unapologetic artistic integrity," I’m embarrassed to admit I somehow let his name slip off my radar after that. 

Rediscovering him now, however, via his brand new single Sever, feels like the start of righting that wrong.

Serving as the first single from the artist's fifth solo album, This Present Moment, Sever is a driving punk offering that doesn't let up for a second. There's a raw and unrefined energy that courses through its veins, as it barrels forward unapologetically. 

Che's vocal performance also deserves a special mention. There's a rough sincerity to it - and you can almost feel him "emptying himself" into the mic - emotional, gripping, and unmistakably human.

A tune that will no doubt appeal to fans of outfits like Sugar, Jawbreaker, and The Smithereens, Sever cuts through the noise with precision. Che says the song deals with "pining for real connection in a society that grows ever more disconnected," and that sentiment hits like someone finally saying what we’ve all been thinking.

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