Inside Bruno Major's new track "Tell Her"
Written by Chelsea Tiso
Graphic by Rebekah Witt
The critically acclaimed British musician Bruno Major is back with his brand new single “Tell Her” ahead of his third album Columbo. The album is set to be released on July 21st and features pre-released singles, “Tell Her,” “We’re Not Really Friends,” and the title track. His discography toes the line between soft R&B and melancholic, with his songs being aptly featured on Spotify playlists like “Warm and Fuzzy Feeling,” “ily x,” and “*end credits.”
The newest single, “Tell Her,” is just short of three minutes but is a cleverly curated track following Bruno’s plea to communicate with a failed relationship through the interaction of a mutual friend. Its music video follows Major from day to night, with apt lighting changes in his hotel room as he battles with his thoughts in a Wes Anderson-esque music video.
The song starts with a soothing guitar riff, sounding like a gentle tap on your door or shoulder, asking for a moment of your time. It’s accompanied by muted hi-hats and snares, further emphasising how vulnerable this conversation is. Much like most of his discography, Bruno Major does not fail to communicate in a simple timeless way that grips me every time.
The transition between the end of the post-chorus and the outro is probably my favourite part of the song. The music video provides the perfect visual of a heartbroken Bruno Major as he repeatedly writes on his notepad “Tell Me That We’ll Work It Out” whilst pleading for the same reassurance. Then, the desperation in his tone reaches its peak. The next few notes, solely piano, are gentle and reflective as he seemingly calms down from the outburst of emotion.
A song entirely in the key of an E-flat minor, the sadness and pleading of the song push to the very end where it ends abruptly. As though Bruno Major finally comes to terms with the finality of the loss of this relationship, the chord pattern we’ve become familiar with in the verse is cut short. It doesn’t return to what we’ve become familiar with, ending on G♭/E rather than returning to G♭, which welcomes us to the transition of the continuation of his thoughts. They end there, just as his chance at reconciliation ended before he noticed.
It’s no wonder Bruno Major has amassed an audience of millions with such a strong and authentic connection to his music. YouTube comments on the accompanying music video attest to it, as do the multiple sold-out dates for his upcoming tour. If you wish to explore more of his discography, you can find it on all streaming services.