“Third Like” - WONDERLOST
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Let’s get this out of the way: “Third Like” by WONDERLOST is not just a track — it’s a place. A humid, dreamy, salt-kissed destination you didn’t know you needed to visit. And once you’re there, you’re not going to want to leave.
Set to release on August 1st via Good Duck Records, this latest instrumental from multi-instrumentalist Jared Warren, aka WONDERLOST, feels like a sonic postcard from a Caribbean hillside, handwritten in reverb and ukulele tones. Recorded at Coral Star Studios in the hills of Coral Bay, St. John, the song oozes island influence — but not in the beach-party cliché kind of way. This is introspective island music. It doesn’t yell; it whispers with confidence.
Warren, while messing around with ukulele sounds, stumbled upon a low-end tone that thudded like a kick drum. And instead of brushing it off as an oddity, he built the entire groove around it. That percussive uke thump is what holds the track together — an earthy, almost analog heartbeat that grounds the airier elements floating above.
From there, it’s layers on layers. A soulful Farfisa organ bass line kicks in — think ‘60s sci-fi church vibes — while synth textures shimmer like heatwaves on the horizon. Over it all? A ukulele melody that somehow feels both Highland and Hawaiian, gliding gently above the groove like a kite caught in a warm breeze.
It’s hard to pin down the genre — which is part of the appeal. Is it lo-fi? Is it cinematic soul? Is it ambient folk with a dubby pulse? Maybe all of the above. And maybe none. What matters more is how it feels: chill but alive, simple but lush, meditative but never sleepy. It’s the kind of track that grows on you. Every time you play it, you catch a new detail: a soft pluck, a synth swell, a subtle ghost note on the snare.
Speaking of the snare — let’s talk about that one-snare-hit-per-measure move. It’s bold. It’s weird. It shouldn’t work. But it does. That sharp, deliberate pop gives the track a sense of space and punctuation, almost like a lighthouse flashing in the mist. It keeps you anchored while everything else drifts blissfully around you.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Jared Warren plays everything on the track himself (yes, every instrument: ukulele, organ, synths, guitar, bass, drums). It’s like watching a solo surfer carving perfect turns — graceful, controlled, and totally in the zone. This is clearly someone who knows his tools but doesn’t feel the need to show off. The vibe is humble, patient, and totally in service of the sound.
As with previous WONDERLOST releases, mixing duties were handled by Allen Clapp, who once again brings clarity without compromising warmth. The track doesn’t feel overly processed — it breathes. The low end hums like warm sand under bare feet, and the highs never pierce. It's cozy, but not too safe. There’s still a slight experimental edge, just enough to keep you curious.
What really hits hardest about “Third Like” is how complete it feels for an instrumental. There’s no need for vocals. No verse-chorus-verse structure. Just vibe, movement, and mood. It’s music you can drive to. Or stretch to. Or stare out the window with. It’s a song you live inside, not just listen to.
So if your brain’s been running too fast, or your heart’s been a little too loud lately — let “Third Like” slow things down. Let it wash over you like Caribbean rain on a tin roof. It’s dreamy, it’s grounded, it’s WONDERLOST. And it’s one of those tracks that reminds you: sometimes the best journeys don’t need words — just sound.
“Third Like” is available now on all major streaming platforms
