Austin Mahone Premieres “Next To You”: Listen

Halfway through Austin Mahone‘s new song “Next to You,” an anonymous DJ says, “Let the bass kick.” At a time when even Skrillex has abandoned his bass bombs, this phrase is particularly loaded. (After all, DJ Snake and Lil Jon‘s “Turn Down for What” shows no signs of fading away any time soon.) But “Next to You” doesn’t explode into a dubstep song.

Instead, its pounding beat gives away for Mahone’s gently sung interrogation: “I see that you’re trying to break a smile, get it / but we know that tears never lie, lie, lie.” (Hear “Next to You” after the jump.)

Like other songs he’s revealed from his debut LP The Secret, “Next to You” feels most like a boy band throwback. And this time, he’s channeling hits about infidelity from the early aughts. Backstreet Boys‘ “The Call” comes to mind, though it would be no surprise if Mahone’s production team also listened to *NSYNC‘s “Bye Bye Bye” for inspiration. (It’s worth noting that the Secret star isn’t singing about cheating, or being cheated on. He’s hoping that a girl will leave her man, though his tone is similarly vindictive.)

Mahone sounds like a man out of his time, though hey – if reception toward *NSYNC’s too-brief reunion was any indication, that may be a good thing. Nostalgia’s a funny thing to reckon with.

[via MTV]