Imagine the nimbus of filtered fluorescent brushstrokes flitting across a satin midnight sky — and this is the beautiful dream conjured up by Nathaniel Paul’s The Girl with No Tattoo. Built on a breezy alternative rock backbone with shimmering synth flourishes, the song tiptoes the line between tranquil introspection and buoyant uplift. With scatted trill and smoky lullaby infusion, Paul’s soulful vocals weave an ode exploring individuality that would make for the quirky manifesto against conformity.

Inspired by his wife’s choice not to have tattoos, the song has an unusual confidence, full of the idea that sometimes a blank canvas can be as daring as a masterwork done in intricate designs. It’s got a sweet brand of rebelliousness in not succumbing to trends, a certain wacky allure that amplifies a hermetic, introverted space for listeners.

At points, the lively instrumentation threatens to overshadow Paul’s own vocal subtleties, and makes one miss a bit more pronounced vocal ornamentation. But the happy groove never wavers; it knocks delicately on your sense of wonder and invites you to dance in your living room with the lights turned way down low. “The Girl with No Tattoo” is an endearing testament to the power of unvarnished self-expression. It is, after all, a laid-back gem, one that lingers further than its peppy hook. Such artistry ravishes anew.

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