After wrapping up his first solo North American tour for his 20-track album, the other side, Mark Tuan headed straight back to the studio. He released a few remixes for fan favorites “imysm” and “far away,” but now he’s back with a brand new single. “Carry Me Out” was released on March 31 following the announcement of his Asia tour. As of right now, the only stops are in Thailand from May 5 to May 13 with more cities to be announced soon. As someone who’s been waiting for a Seoul concert since covering his album release for The Kraze, I couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of new music and additional tour dates.

“Carry Me Out” is kept short and sweet at two minutes and 20 seconds. The lyrics tell the story of two people with an ambiguous relationship. One person feels more attached while the other is simply “playing it cool.” The title comes from the lyrics, “When I end up falling / You’ll have to carry me out.” Mark sings from the perspective of someone who is in so deep that there’s nowhere else to go but down. When love is unrequited, it just feels like falling, making “Carry Me Out” an appropriate and relatable song for many.

When the track opens, the vibe is very similar to the other side. For artists who are trying to rediscover their sound as soloists, it’s difficult to avoid the pitfall of repetition. Releasing music of the same genre feels safer than experimenting with new sounds. However, the chorus picks up with an added pop rock edge. Crunchy guitar is added to the mix, and Mark’s voice suits the genre well. Although I was skeptical at first, I soon found myself wishing the song was longer, and I hope to see more rock influences from Mark Tuan in the future.

Edited by Aleena Faisal