WRITTEN BY FAITH LUEVANOS
✮ ⋆ ˚｡𖦹 ⋆｡°✩
Photo by @leefoxcliff
Indie artist Nick Wagen returns with his new single, “Secure,” an intimate exploration of healthy love, emotional vulnerability and the lengths one is willing to go to make someone feel safe. In classic Wagen fashion, the track pairs ethereal guitars with dream-pop elements, allowing his yearning vocals to drift effortlessly on top. This time around, however, the production is what guides the song and submerges listeners deeper into the immersive world of Wagen’s music. Each layer feels intentional in that it creates a sound that mirrors the song’s central desire for connection and reassurance.
The Chicago-based artist first made waves in 2019 with his debut single, “Confusion,” which has since amassed 7M+ streams on Spotify. Arriving during a defining moment in the indie music landscape, the track’s introspective songwriting captured the attention of a larger audience. This single established the foundation of his debut album Whatever Helps You Sleep at Night, which has amassed 10M+ streams on Spotify since its 2023 release.
More recently, Wagen introduced The Space Between, a new artist project that served as a major creative outlet for experimentation and artistic reinvention. The project opened the door to new possibilities within his sound, and listeners can begin to hear traces of The Space Between in “Secure.” Wagen constantly reinvents and expands his sonic universe, and “Secure” sits at the intersection of a former Wagen sound and something fresh, something new.
At its core, “Secure” is a reflection on the complexities of love. With lyrics like “I want our names intertwined in sand / the ocean breathes, so why don’t you take my hand? / if only to make me feel secure,” there’s a deeper layer to the track containing a desire for security and an element of unfiltered honesty. Wagen continues to refine his artistic identity, balancing indie nostalgia with his experimental instincts, proving that he still remains an important and ever-evolving artist to watch.
“Secure” is out now on all streaming platforms.
