SIAN - Close Friends
Pop, Hip Hop
Delaware, U.S.
Overall Impression: "Close Friends” isn’t just a song—it’s a vibe, a situation, a moment. It captures that woozy 2AM clarity where feelings hit hardest and boundaries blur. SIAN (theoneandonly) proves himself a magnetic presence—one who can turn heartbreak into groove, lust into lyric, and attention into art. Between his undeniably charismatic vocal performance, the rich enveloping nature of the arrangement, and engaging modern production, the track manages to strike a great balance between all of its distinct elements, giving listeners a modern R&B tune that's dressed in pop’s finest tailoring, but with enough edge and honesty to keep it grounded in truth.
Strongest Point(s): At the track’s core is SIAN’s vocals—charismatic, expressive, and irrefutably fluid. His performance doesn’t just fit the beat—it inhabits it. He rides the production with the effortless grace of someone who understands that the voice isn’t just an instrument—it’s a living, breathing force. There’s a dynamic range here that impresses without showboating and the way he manages to meld the his vice depending on what the mood demands is particularly strong. He sings like someone who’s been here before—who’s made peace with emotional messiness, and knows how to turn it into melody. Lyrically, “Close Friends” is emotionally messy in the most relatable way. It captures the quiet toxicity and magnetism of a situationship that exists in the margins—lived out through thirst traps, late-night texts, and half-kept secrets. SIAN writes with a raw kind of honesty, unafraid to expose the darker corners of desire: “You say that I’m thirsty but I think you’re ashamed of the way you are / Just a whore for attention.” The bluntness cuts, but it doesn’t feel gratuitous—it feels like something said mid-argument, the kind of line that escapes when you’re too deep in your feelings to be polite. There's a duality in the writing: self-aware yet reckless, vulnerable yet confrontational. With regard to the mix/production, it’s sleek, yes, but not cold. The production walks that razor’s edge between polish and soul, ensuring that nothing ever feels sterile or overproduced. Every sonic element has space to breathe: vocals are front and center but never overpowering; synths shimmer without overwhelming; the low end is present without dragging the energy down. It’s a modern aesthetic that feels emotionally alive—a rarity in the algorithm-chasing world of today’s R&B-pop hybrids.
Target Audience Appeal: "Close Friends" is an effective piece of modern R&B songwriting and I can see fans of the genre strongly connecting with it.
Artist target suggestions: Chris Brown, The Weeknd, Drake, Swae Lee, The Kid LAORI, Kendrick Lamar, Miguel, Don Toliver, Tory Lanez, Childish Gambino, Khalid,
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About the Reviewer:
Andre Avanessian is a freelance session guitarist, composer, and sound engineer based in the U.K. Having studied music production and composition at a degree level, he has taken his passion for all things audio-related to a level that has allowed him to become both a competent musician and performer. Being a self-confessed "Guitar Nerd" Andre has been continually studying the guitar as well as teaching it, helping students learn the instrument, develop their songwriting, and become proficient in home recording.