Brooklyn dream-pop outfit Endearments return with a new single. ‘Too Late’ is a blistering breakup story that expertly evokes the sounds of early synthpop and new wave. “I think breakups have these turning points where you realize things can no longer be fixed,” Marksson explains. “‘Too Late’ is about those moments—recognizing when you’re being taken for granted and saying enough is enough.”
The music of Endearments has always inhabited a singular space, mingling the crystalline poise of new wave and post-punk with the emotional release of contemporary pop. The Brooklyn dream-pop trio began in 2020 as the solo project of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Marksson, whose synth-forward sensibilities carried over from his previous band, Saint Marilyn. Endearments’ first singles, ‘Left Side’ and ‘Anica,’ introduced the heartbreak and healing later explored more fully on their debut EP Father of Wands, which reflected on the end of Marksson’s marriage. Their latest singles, ‘Heartbreaker’ and ‘Too Late,’ look back on the same relationship with a retrospective edge, closing the door on Endearments’ first chapter. The addition of drummer Will Haywood Smith and guitarist Anjali Nair as full-time band members has allowed Marksson to step even more powerfully into his role as bassist and singer. “Fuck your excuses,” Marksson spits atop driving bass guitar, “I cannot give you more of what I don’t contain.” ‘Too Late’ soars thanks to hazy backing vocals and lush, synthesizer-centric production, with Nair contributing echoing layers of color and Haywood Smith developing a sensitive counterpoint throughout the song—part-motorik, part fill-laden rock groove.
Self-produced by Marksson at his home studio, ‘Too Late’ was recorded straight to cassette tape, a creative limitation the group relished. The glittering production folds in endless sonic treasures reflecting each member’s distinct character, from flourishing synthesizers to coils of spacious guitar. Mix engineer Abe Seiferth (Nation of Language, Car Seat Headrest) was brought in to complete the band’s vision, accentuating the analog warmth of their chosen medium.
