Varun Sheel captures the glow of young Love on single, “shine”
In a world where indie pop can sometimes lean too heavily on mood without much heart, Varun Sheel arrives like a burst of sunlight with his new single “shine.” It’s a track that takes the delicate, aching thrill of young love and wraps it in a radiant soundscape, effortlessly blending nostalgic textures with modern indie pop sparkle.
From the opening notes, shine hums with an earnest, youthful energy. Nostalgic guitar lines shimmer alongside video game-inspired synth flourishes, giving the track a playful, wistful edge that never feels gimmicky. Instead, those 8-bit melodies act like sonic snapshots of a simpler time, anchoring the song’s emotional core in the golden glow of memory.
Sheel’s vocals are an undeniable centerpiece here. Euphoric and feather-light, his voice glides through verses with the kind of vulnerability that feels both intimate and universal, effortlessly soaring into high notes that many indie pop vocalists would kill for. There’s a purity to his delivery, a genuine, wide-eyed wonder that makes every lyric about fleeting glances and unspoken words land with gut-punch sincerity.
What makes shine truly stick, though, is its soaring chorus — the kind made for shouting out of car windows with your best friend in the passenger seat, chasing the last light of a perfect day. It’s one of those hooks you hum unconsciously after just one listen, a melodic earworm dressed in sunlight and indie charm. Catchy without ever feeling forced, it’s undoubtedly the beating heart of the song.
The production is bright and expansive, yet remains tastefully restrained. Acoustic guitar strums ground the track, adding warmth and texture against the more modern pop elements. It’s a blend that feels fresh and thoughtfully balanced — indie pop through and through, but with a clever twist of retro flair that makes it stand out in a crowded field.
Ultimately, shine feels like a love letter to the small, ephemeral moments that end up shaping us: the first crush, the wordless glances, the evenings that stretch forever and end too soon. It’s indie pop at its most tender and unguarded, a track that doesn’t try to be profound but ends up hitting somewhere deep nonetheless.
Varun Sheel might be relatively new to the wider scene, but with shine, he’s proven himself as a songwriter with both a sharp melodic instinct and an emotional clarity beyond his years. It’s a song built to last and a career we can’t wait to see take off! Go ahead and click those links below to listen up and follow along for more.
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