There’s A Certain Ache To Remembering in Starboard to Sunset’s “Without You Here”

Grief is one of those feelings that seems impossible to put into words without making it sound bigger or smaller than it really is. Somehow, Starboard to Sunset finds its own way to navigate it with their latest single, Without You Here.

That ability to express something as deeply personal as grief feels fitting for Tom Damiano, who leads the creative vision of the alternative rock band from the Jersey Shore. It’s this deeply personal approach to songwriting that gives Starboard to Sunset its distinct identity, and has established them as a band to watch in the regional music scene.

The track started with percussion hits that build a gentle momentum before opening up into something more reflective and tender. The sound isn’t the kind that lets you sink deeper into grief, yet for some reason, it makes the loneliness underneath it stand out even more. The same also applies to the vocals; they’re raspy, weathered, and it also makes you think of the memories the song is trying to preserve.

What makes the lyrics hit is how they never try too hard to explain grief. You’d get something as simple as sunlight, wind, and nature to capture the quiet ache of missing someone who is no longer there, and that alone makes it feel so genuine.

As Without You Here ends, it’ll leave you with more than just sadness; it also gives you the warmth that comes from having known someone deeply enough to miss them. Starboard to Sunset deserves credit for knowing exactly how much space to give that feeling, creating moments that you want to sit with a little longer.