A Kaleidoscope of Emotion in PEPTALK x Huck Hastings’ “Pretty Colours”

By FusioNostalgia

There’s something magnetic about when two distinct creative forces collide, and PEPTALK x Huck Hastings have managed to capture that spark with their new single “Pretty Colours.” It’s a collaboration born not just out of artistic alignment but out of genuine connection, first formed when they met at a queer writing camp in 2023. The moment they crossed paths, it was clear their shared love of sentimental lyricism and an almost unapologetic tendency to care too much could create something special. “Pretty Colours” is proof of that chemistry—a song that feels as vulnerable as it is sharp, balancing intimacy with undeniable pop energy.

At its heart, the track is a difficult conversation with yourself, the kind where you’re forced to confront the truth instead of polishing it into something easier to swallow. Inspired by a professional relationship that went sour, PEPTALK and Huck reimagined the scenario as a crumbling romance, one of those situations where walking away was the only option. Huck’s signature shoegazing vulnerability gives the lyrics their haunting weight, while PEPTALK’s knack for crafting irresistible hooks and glossy textures pushes the song toward something both deeply personal and widely relatable. Lara and Phoebe’s production under their Middleman moniker ensures that the track doesn’t lean too far into either camp—it’s part delicate unraveling, part danceable catharsis.

PEPTALK have always been more than just a band; they’re friends who carry the energy of community into everything they do. With backgrounds spanning songwriting credits across continents, K-pop cuts, and pride songwriting camps with icons like Troye Sivan, they’re no strangers to stretching their sound across genres and cultures. Their presence onstage and in the studio carries the warmth of people who want to lift everyone up with them, and “Pretty Colours” feels like another extension of that ethos, even as it dives into the sting of disillusionment.

For Huck Hastings, whose work has consistently thrived in the space between wit and melancholy, the collaboration marks another evolution. His debut album Cheers To Progress and earlier singles like “Anthem For The End of The World” showcased his ability to capture emotional nuance against a backdrop of both chaos and quiet, and here he finds a new context for that vulnerability. When his lyricism meets PEPTALK’s playful yet precise pop vision, the result feels like a kaleidoscope—shifting between heartbreak, release, and a wry self-awareness.

“Pretty Colours” is a reminder that collaboration isn’t just about blending styles—it’s about creating a conversation between artists who see the world a little differently but feel things the same way. The track refuses to let memory become rose-tinted, instead choosing honesty over comfort, and in doing so, it offers something beautiful in its rawness. It’s the kind of song that lingers long after the first listen, proof that when PEPTALK and Huck Hastings meet in the middle, they paint emotions in shades we didn’t know we needed.