There’s a kind of ache that feels good. The kind that lives under the ribs, low and slow, and almost nostalgic—like remembering someone you never actually met. That’s exactly where MacGregor Burns lands with “What I’ve Been Looking For”, a low-lit, gently unraveling folk-R&B ballad that somehow sounds like both the end of summer and the start of something new.
Produced by Luke Temple (the one from Here We Go Magic), the track sways between classic and strange—sounding like a heartbroken The Band covering something from Dirty Projectors’ B-side collection. It’s built around a dusky guitar tone and a string arrangement that feels like a lullaby being whispered into a canyon. And then there’s Burns’ voice: raspy, grainy, unguarded. It’s the kind of voice that doesn’t sing to you—it just sings, and you happen to be close enough to overhear something real.
Regarding the poem, “What I’ve Been Looking For” reads like a page torn from a personal notebook. There’s no big chorus, no fireworks—just one of those rare songs that feels like someone letting you in on a secret. It touches on clarity found too late, or maybe just in time. It’s melancholic, but not self-pitying. Chill, but not checked out. It feels like the soundtrack to sitting alone in a car at dusk, not sure if you’re waiting for someone, or just not ready to go home.
About MacGregor Burns:
As for MacGregor Burns himself—he’s the kind of character who could easily be mistaken for one. A former water polo referee, substitute teacher, Hollywood tour guide and occasional music video extra, he has a knack for slipping between scenes and slipping into songs. His upcoming album, due this Fall, is full of contributions from indie’s quieter legends—Luke Temple, Ryan Pollie, members of Fell Runner, Little Wings, and MegaBud—and if this single is any indication, it’ll be a record full of unexpected tenderness and warm unease. Just like the guy himself.
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