Baby Condor Capture the Beautiful Ache of Growing Up on 'Seventeen'
- Andy Roberts
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
With “Seventeen,” Dutch brother duo Baby Condor deliver a sweeping, melancholic meditation on growing up, drifting forward, and holding on to the last strands of who we once were. It’s a track steeped in nostalgia yet brimming with life, a song that feels as if it’s been unearthed from a beloved vinyl collection and simultaneously born for the present moment.
Crafted entirely within their self-built Mermaid Studio, the single showcases Nolle and Beinte Groen at their most meticulous and intimate. Every element, from the hand-soldered gear to the analogue warmth saturating the mix, testifies to the brothers’ dedication to authenticity. The production has a distinctly handcrafted quality: lush without excess, cinematic without spectacle.
“Seventeen” blooms slowly, layering live strings, horns, and soft, shimmering guitars over organic percussion. The instrumentation evokes the golden era of classic songwriting, calling back to Paul Simon’s narrative ease, Harry Nilsson’s charm, Marvin Gaye’s soulful depth, and Brian Wilson’s expansive arrangements. Yet Baby Condor never feel derivative; instead, they filter these influences through their own lens, shaping a sound that’s warm, wistful, and unmistakably theirs.
At the heart of the track lies its emotional thesis. “It’s about how the world is changing faster than anyone can keep up with,” Nolle explains, and the song carries that weight quietly but firmly. The lyrics feel like a conversation with a younger self, or a postcard from a moment slipping out of reach. It’s the ache of growing older, the fading outlines of memory, and the attempt, however fragile, to stay human through it all.
That sincerity is the hallmark of Baby Condor. Since forming the project, the brothers have approached each song as a world to build from the ground up, prioritising soul and truth over flash. “Authenticity in music is everything,” Beinte says, and “Seventeen” is proof: a beautifully textured, emotionally generous track that invites listeners not just to hear, but to feel.
With its vintage glow and modern heart, “Seventeen” cements Baby Condor as one of the most compelling new acts blending craft, nostalgia, and emotional clarity. It’s a song for anyone who’s ever looked back and kept moving forward anyway.
