There’s something quietly gutting about watching the world carry on as if nothing happened when your own has cracked open. That’s the heart of Torpey’s new single ‘Why Won’t The World Stop Turning?’, a gently powerful track that feels like both a whispered plea and a raw confession.
The Clare-born singer-songwriter, fresh off the success of his previous single Only The Good Die Young, takes a sharp left turn here, swapping out the swagger and grit for something much softer, sadder, and more introspective. Written after the passing of his grandfather, this track captures that surreal stillness in grief, when you just want everything around you to pause… but it doesn’t. I found this track very relatable and often felt the same after my Grandmother’s passing. There’s a mixed bag of feelings those types of passings make you feel, there’s often confusion mixed with grief and a bit of cynicism thrown in there too for good measure.
From the start, the guitar intro calmly brings you into this one. It’s stripped back, spacious, and aching. It’s clear the instrumentation is there to support the vocals, not compete with them. And rightly so, Torpey’s voice is effortlessly strong yet calm, carrying the emotion without ever tipping into melodrama that would take away from the genuine feeling in this track. The lyrics are beautifully fluid, asking repeatedly “Why won’t the world stop turning?” — a question that spirals but never quite lands, mirroring the helplessness of loss.
You can definitely hear the influence of Bon Iver and R.E.M. here. There’s an earthy honesty to the track, balanced by subtle layers that give it a slightly dreamy, floating quality. It doesn’t try to build to a big climax, instead, it sits with the feeling, unafraid to be still. It’s a brave move, and one that pays off.
As the second single and title track from his upcoming EP, this one shows a different side to Torpey, one that’s quieter, more vulnerable, but just as compelling. Why Won’t The World Stop Turning?’ feels like it isn’t here to make a big noise. And I mean that in the best way possible, it doesn’t have to do things big, it just does them right. There’s parts in this that remind me of fellow Irish artist Eden’s track ‘A call’. There’s an honesty and confusion wrapped up in beautiful storytelling. Doing this and doing it well takes some serious talent and Torpey nailed it.
It’s a strong step forward for one of Ireland’s most promising emerging voices, Why Won’t The World Stop Turning? spins in with a 7.5 out of 10.
Reviewer – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography