In a landscape where collaborations often feel stitched together for the sake of novelty, I’ll Stay arrives as something more intentional: a shared vision realized through the combined artistry of goodtoknow, Paula Pietro, Sir Hope, and Benjamin Walker. The four have managed to capture a rare balance—an EP that speaks as a singular work while celebrating the individuality of its contributors. Every note feels considered, every silence purposeful, giving the impression of music shaped less by industry formula and more by genuine communion.
Across its five tracks—”October”, “Expect”, “Mad”, “Burn”, and the title track—the project invites listeners into an unfolding sequence of intimate soundscapes. There is an almost cinematic quality to the listening experience, as though each song sketches a different chapter of a dream. Haunting ballads dissolve into minimalist textures, and soaring refrains echo with just enough restraint to avoid excess. It is music that does not overwhelm but instead envelops, asking the listener to lean in rather than step back.
The arrangements are striking in their subtlety. Strings and synths glide through the mix like soft brushstrokes, underscoring a vocal delivery that is featherlight yet resonant. Pietro’s voice in particular is given room to breathe, floating across melodies with a breezy tenderness that never loses its emotional depth. The interplay between instruments and voice is deliberate, refined—an act of careful framing rather than competition. What results is a tapestry that feels both lush and unadorned, carrying a quiet conviction in its minimalism.
By its conclusion, I’ll Stay has done more than simply present a collection of songs. It leaves an afterglow, a sense of being gently persuaded to remain within its sound-world a little longer. In its title lies its ethos: an invitation to dwell, to listen, to return. With elegance and restraint, this collaboration has carved out a space where time slows and feeling takes precedence—a rare achievement in today’s hurried musical climate.