Some songs take weeks of work to find their shape. Others arrive almost fully formed, leaving the songwriter with the job of catching the idea before it disappears. For Los Angeles-based musician Hunter Watts, “Selfish” was one of the latter. A piano-playing session turned into a complete song in a single burst of inspiration, giving him a track that feels as spontaneous as the process behind it.
Known for his work as a session musician, Watts has contributed to records by Drugdealer, American Slang, and Sylvie, building a reputation within Los Angeles’ vintage-minded music scene. Now, he is stepping forward with his self-titled debut EP, Hunter Watts, recorded at Valentine Recording Studios in Studio City with producer Nic Jodoin. “Selfish” offers a glimpse of the sound he brings to the project, drawing on the loose, groove-driven character of 1970s rock.
The track takes a relaxed approach to its arrangement, allowing its different parts to play off one another rather than crowding the song with unnecessary detail. Slide guitar and lead guitar trade phrases, giving the instrumental passages a lively sense of conversation, while Watts delivers the vocals in a hazy, unhurried drawl. The combination recalls the era when rock bands borrowed from country music without losing their edge, finding energy in the space between a strong groove and an unfussy performance.
The rhythm section is equally important to that feeling. For much of the song, tambourine, handclaps, and a bouncing bass line provide the momentum, keeping the arrangement light on its feet. The effect is infectious without feeling overworked. When the rhythm section expands later in the track, the shift adds weight to the performance without disrupting its easygoing character.
That natural chemistry fits the way “Selfish” came together. Watts had been considering the idea of moving between 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures, giving the song a rhythmic foundation that could shift between different feels. One day, while playing piano, the idea simply arrived. He recorded it on his phone, preserving a moment that might otherwise have vanished amid the constant flow of musical thoughts.
There is something fitting about that origin story. A song built around spontaneity benefits from a recording approach that allows musicians to respond to one another in real time. The EP was recorded using a live, analog-minded philosophy, and “Selfish” draws much of its appeal from that sense of musicians playing together rather than working towards an overly polished finish.
As a preview of Hunter Watts, the single establishes an artist comfortable with tradition but more interested in capturing its spirit than reproducing it exactly. The guitars have room to wander, the rhythm stays buoyant, and the performance never seems in a hurry to prove anything.
“Selfish” is a reminder that a song doesn’t always need to be forced into existence. Sometimes, the best thing a musician can do is recognise a good idea when it arrives, press record, and let the feeling carry the rest.
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