TheFreshFinds
On his new LP My Way Out, singer Brett Altman captures the catharsis of breakup recovery
from every tumultuous angle through a poppy, early-2000s R&B swagger.
The indie pop/dance artist has been slowly releasing singles over the past year — including the
sneaky and sultry “Eye Mask” and the sunny, self-reflective “Abundance” — cultivating five out
of the album’s seven tracks in the May 2024 EP “Just Like You.” He recorded the album in just a
a week and a half with his producer buddy Colin Rowe, but made the decision to spread it out for
as long as possible.
"I took a pause,” he said. “I needed a break because there was so much pushing. Right now I’m trying to be present but excited at the same time."
The album’s focus track, “Forbidden Fruit,” sees Altman channeling a young Justin Timberlake
as he debates whether he misses the physicality of his relationship more than his ex-partner
themselves. With breathy and cool assertion, he confidently steps into the plunging bass-driven
rhythm — signaling that he has found his flow as a young artist still early in his career.
“Why am I touching myself about you? / Late at night, my other plans, they fell through,” Altman croons cheekily on the chorus, his upfront sensuality coinciding with the song’s title. Desire for something he can no longer have is a cleverly laid string throughout the album — was the
the person he once shared love with the “forbidden fruit” all along?
The title track “My Way Out” is reminiscent of Dua Lipa’s string-led dance-pop fusion, and details
Altman’s struggles to escape this doomed relationship — and make sure it stays that way. He
toys with the option to go back to what’s pleasurable quite a bit throughout the album,
contextualizing the relatable tug-of-war that those struggling to stay away from ex-lovers go
through.
Altman addresses the bright sides, as well. On “Just Like You,” he gives a passionate shoutout
to his songwriting idols — including Donovan Woods, who he had a run-in with last year.
Through a joyful, electric lush beat, he refocuses his mindset on the bigger picture — achieving
his dreams as an artist and mirroring those who came before him.
The experimental last song “All The Signs,” is a 2-minute autotuned trip that strays from the rest
of the album's sound. It’s synthy and mysterious — encapsulating Altman’s strutful persona from “Eye Mask” and acts as his final goodbye to the thought of this relationship for good.
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