Sometimes the most powerful songs emerge from those quiet, late-night moments of vulnerability. Such is the case with “Both In Bed,” the latest single from New York-based indie folk artist Inés Hall, who has managed to bottle that universal feeling of post-breakup longing into three minutes and seventeen seconds of raw, emotional clarity.
The track, which came to life at Nowhere Studios with producer Josh Liebman (who’s worked his magic with artists like Norah Jones and Josh Groban), strikes a delicate balance between stripped-down authenticity and polished production. There’s something almost hypnotic about the way Hall’s vocals weave through the intimate acoustic guitar work, all while dreamy ambient elements float just beneath the surface.
It turns out the song’s achingly honest perspective comes from a very real place. “I had just moved to Colorado and was long distance with my girlfriend at the time when we decided to part ways,” Hall reveals, reflecting on the song’s origins. Like countless others who’ve found themselves staring at the ceiling at 2 AM, she grappled with those persistent questions about an ex’s new life: “Were they out with someone else or in bed thinking about me?”
The lyrics pull no punches, especially in lines like “As the loneliness gets closer do you fill it with the warmth of their skin?” – words that might make anyone who’s ever gone through a breakup wince in recognition. When the song reaches its emotional peak with “I’m sleeping and dreaming of you / Wondering if I could lay next to you / Both in bed,” it captures that peculiar mix of hope and heartache that seems to intensify in the small hours.
Perhaps what makes “Both In Bed” feel so genuine is its spontaneous birth – Hall wrote it in just thirty minutes in her Fort Collins studio apartment, letting the emotions flow unfiltered onto the page. Working with Liebman later, she had one clear goal in mind: to recreate “that gut-wrenching feeling when you are laying in bed in the pitch black just overthinking your late night thoughts.” The addition of subtle violin arrangements and carefully layered instrumentals in the finale suggests they hit their mark.
Hall’s journey to this moment has been anything but conventional. Growing up in Westchester County, she started writing songs at twelve, teaching herself piano and guitar while harboring classic rockstar dreams. While she cites indie heavyweights Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker as influences, there’s something refreshingly unformed about her approach to genre – she’s still finding her footing between indie rock and folk, and that exploration shows in her work.
“Both In Bed” is streaming now on all major platforms. Those interested in following Inés Hall and her journey can find her on Instagram and TikTok, where she offers glimpses into her creative process and connects with an increasingly engaged audience. With each new release, Hall continues to prove herself as an artist unafraid to explore the raw edges of human emotion, making her a compelling voice to watch in the indie folk scene — and we’re here for it.
