During my research for Jane Penny of TOPS’s recent EP, I learned about Better Person, the solo project of Adam Byczkowski. His lone album (unless you count the 23 minute It’s Only You) is 2020’s Something to Lose, which has quickly become one of my most-played picks in recent weeks. Byczkowski lived with Penny and the album is inspired by her.

In an interview with Breaking Glass Magazine, he described the record as “Heartfelt ballads sung by a Polish man who fell deeply in love.” Tender as all get-out, the Polish-language opener “Na Zawsze” (Forever) is a delicate expression of feeling, accompanied by a touching synth melody. This sets the tone for Something to Lose, which is indeed heartfelt and alternates between driving drum programming (“Hearts on Fire”) and more ambient production (“Glendale Evening”). MGMT’s Ben Goldwasser produced the album in LA after Better Person wrote the songs in Berlin, and it has a consistently lovestruck vibe that will be comfortable to any fans of smooth pop.

Originally planning to title the album True Love, he changed the name after Devon Welsh released his record True Love (2019). Still, the theme comes across as on “Next to You” or the title track “Something to Lose”, an outstanding piece of pop magic. When BP sings “touch me baby” it comes off as completely genuine. Though the synths and programmed drums here might strike some as kitschy, they reflect more on the artist’s bedroom setup than a retro aesthetic.

Released on the heavy-hitting Canadian label Arbutus (as well as Mansions and Millions in Germany), Something to Lose is a worthy addition to their already superb catalog, and an album that unfairly fell through the cracks during the 2020 pandemic. The artist himself suffers from long Covid and has not released music since. Hopefully he will continue to recover and further explore his talent as a musician.

Listen to Something to Lose here.