Western Australian singer-songwriter Riley Pearce delivers something genuinely special with Foundation, a track that captures the vulnerable beauty of starting over.
This fourth single from his forthcoming collection finds the artist at his most emotionally transparent, weaving together delicate acoustic arrangements with atmospheric production that feels both intimate and expansive.
The song emerges from a deeply personal crisis point – the end of a management relationship that left Pearce questioning his entire musical future.
Rather than wallowing in uncertainty, he transforms this period of doubt into something luminous.
The opening lines, “I wish that I could lie / Keep the illusion / Apart from all that hides behind,” establish an immediate honesty that runs throughout the track.
Pearce’s vocal delivery carries the weight of his introspection without becoming heavy-handed.
His voice floats over gentle guitar work, supported by harmonies that create an almost celestial backdrop.
The production choices feel deliberate – every atmospheric element serves the song’s emotional core rather than overwhelming it.
The lyrical narrative unfolds like a conversation with oneself, moving from the “heavy feeling” of August that “took two years to comprehend” to the eventual breakthrough moment by the ocean.
There’s something particularly moving about the line “I’ll step out into the sunlight laughing,” which captures that euphoric moment when clarity finally arrives.
What makes Foundation special is how it balances melancholy with hope. The repeated refrain “Don’t let go of it now / Don’t let it fall to the ground” becomes both a plea and a promise, whilst the ethereal “ahhh” vocals that punctuate the song add an almost spiritual dimension to the proceedings.
The soundscape feels carefully constructed yet organic, with subtle layers that reveal themselves on repeated listens.
It’s the kind of track that rewards close attention whilst also working beautifully as background music for quiet reflection.
Riley Pearce – Foundation Lyrics
I wish that I could lie
Keep the illusion
Apart from all that hides behind
Felt like August wouldn’t end
That heavy feeling
Took two years to comprehend
I’ll come out the other side still breathing
Seeking nothing more than that
Don’t let go of it now
Don’t let it fall to the ground
Find a foundation to rebuild on
That takes the weight of our dreaming
(Ahhh)
(Ahhh)
All the evidence I find
Is it born from some delusion
Or a fragile state of mind
Til the ghosts call it a day
Pack their lunch into a bag
And head out north to find the train
And I’ll step out into the sunlight laughing
Seeking nothing more than that
Seeking nothing more than that
(Ahhh)
(Ahhh)
Don’t let go of it now
Don’t let it fall to the ground
Find a foundation to rebuild on
That takes the weight of our dreaming
(Ahhh hey)
(Ahhh hey)
(Ahhh)
(Ahhh)