With his debut single ‘Play It Cool’, musician Def.fo, AKA Tom Powell, delivers a nostalgic tribute to the sound of the 90’s. Reminiscent of Tame Impala’s early sonic explorations, the song’s mesmerizing soundscape relies on its electrical guitar work and a compelling bass groove blended with layers of instruments, searing and swooping throughout.
This hardly comes as a surprise considering that Tom Powell, son of legendary cult record producer Steve Powell (The Strands, John Power, The Stairs) grew up writing music before becoming the bass player for Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band. Thanks to his extensive experience in music, Def.fo was able to call upon the best of the best, including not only his father but also Roy Merchant (Omar, M.I.A, Basement Jaxx) for the mixing and Howie Weinberg (Nirvana, Kasabian, The Red Hot Chili Peppers) for the mastering.
Accompanying the song is an ecstatic music video featuring a bubble gum pink Cadillac, strongly inspired by Tony Scott’s 90’s cult movie ‘True Romance’. But aside from the fun and the frolic, one should pay attention to the lyrical message. In a society of infinite video scrolls by faceless and phony curators, Def.fo invokes the 90’s rock spirit, calling for more authenticity and humility.
