Ottawa-based rap multi-hyphenate and Public Records siren City Fidelia is back in full circle with the reflective “Needed Time.” Over a single textured guitar loop, Fidelia pens an ode to those he’s parted ways with— be it loved ones who’ve transitioned, or friends he’s outgrown. The introspective record expresses the emotional rollercoaster of letting go and allowing time to heal all wounds; he reveals the struggles he’s faced in coming to terms with major losses, and details how time was the steadfast savior in his journey of navigating grief.
He changes the pace from the single’s ultra-hype trap predecessor, “College Dropout,” to a stripped-down, acoustic R&B-hip hop serenade that signals the need to slow down and process heartache.
The video for “Needed Time” features a contemplative Fidelia taking time through the busy-ness of life as an artist to find moments of stillness. In those moments, he mourns the empty space that should have been filled with the presence of those who mattered most, and memories that should have been made together.
Despite the song’s somber arrangement, there is an overarching feeling of hope. Recognizing that inner peace can only be found in the art of staying grounded, Fidelia finds catharsis in honouring those who came before him with the therapy of time.
