An Early Bird and &Tilly Explore Love’s Complexities in “The Way We Know”

Released on March 28, 2025, “The Way We Know” is the latest collaboration between Italian indie-folk singer-songwriter An Early Bird and Prague-based ambient pop artist &Tilly. The track captures the emotional weight of love that is no longer easy but still meaningful. It offers a quiet, intimate look at the way connection can shift over time without necessarily falling apart.

An Early Bird, also known as Stefano De Stefano, has spent the past several years growing a loyal listenership across Europe for his soft acoustic sound and heartfelt songwriting. His past albums include Of Ghosts & Marvels (2018), Echoes of Unspoken Words (2020), Diviner (2021), and A Beautiful Waste Of Time (2023). These releases gained strong support on streaming platforms, particularly for tracks like “Take My Hand,” “Precious Time,” and “Under My Skin.” He often writes songs that feel like quiet personal letters, letting his lyrics speak for themselves without relying on elaborate production.

&Tilly began releasing music in 2019 and gradually found her voice in the indie and dream-pop world. Her vocals tend to float over soft piano and ambient elements, often shaped around themes of solitude, longing, and emotional growth. Singles like “Will You Remember Me?” and “I Cannot Rain” highlight her ability to use simplicity as a strength. Her previous collaboration with An Early Bird on “Sober Love” (2023) set the tone for their creative chemistry, and “The Way We Know” builds on that with a softer, more introspective tone.

At its core, the song is about quiet disconnection. Rather than a breakup filled with conflict or loss, it reflects the stillness that comes when two people realize they are no longer aligned. Phrases like “we don’t say much anymore” and “silence speaks louder than before” hint at a shared distance that crept in slowly. The sadness lies in how natural that distance feels, not in dramatic gestures but in the everyday quiet.

The arrangement supports this emotion by staying minimal. Acoustic guitar is used gently throughout, and soft piano accents fill the spaces in between. There are no drums, no strong rhythmic pull, and no noticeable build. The focus remains on the voices, which move carefully without needing to force emotion. An Early Bird carries a steady lead while &Tilly’s voice adds light contrast, never overpowering but always present. The way they alternate lines and blend together adds to the sense that both perspectives are being heard.

Nothing in the song feels rushed. The pauses feel just as important as the lyrics. The restraint in the production allows the message to feel honest. This approach matches the artists’ existing catalogues, both of which avoid artificial drama in favor of emotional clarity. There is a sense that the song was recorded with care, not only technically, but emotionally too.

Listeners who are drawn to the softer side of folk, indie ballads, or ambient singer-songwriter styles may find comfort in this track. It calls to mind the muted sorrow of Keaton Henson, the softness of Iron and Wine, and the shared stillness of early Bon Iver recordings. Rather than create a moment of catharsis, “The Way We Know” creates space for reflection.

The song works best when heard in solitude. It is not made for playlists built around energy or volume. It is made for quiet mornings, for silent evenings, or for those times when you want something to sit with you, rather than speak for you. “The Way We Know” does not explain love. It simply observes it in one of its more fragile forms and sometimes, that is more than enough.