“Desire” by Bob Moses & Zhu

Perhaps the easiest way to understand this song (“Desire”) is to imagine, despite never being specified, that the vocalist and addressee are akin to lovers. In fact, the message being put forth via this piece is presented generally enough that it can be interpreted within the context of a number of relationship types. But since the singer is talking about the addressee’s “desire” in relation to his own, again, it can be taken that the two of them have something going on.

With that in mind, what’s actually being put forth premise-wise is something like, upon initiating this relationship with the addressee, the vocalist was under the impression that being in love, if you will, would be all roses. But now, after having experienced it firsthand, he has come to realize that instead “nothing comes for free”. 

Again, he doesn’t actually expound on what happened between the two of them. But what can be ascertained is that he feels somehow constricted. Owing to this, he is “looking for release” from the situation.

That then brings us to the thesis sentiment. What the vocalist seems to be telling the addressee, most simply relayed, is that he does not want her to love him anymore. So the implication would be that this person’s “desire” for the singer keeps her coming back for more. But since he’s no longer interested in the relationship, his message is akin to encouraging the two of them to go their separate ways. And if such is the case, then the wording of the bridge insinuates that, desire and all aside, the feeling may be mutual, though the vocalist being the one to actually drive the nail in the coffin.

The Conclusion

Conclusively, what’s being relayed is the singer coming to the realization that in the process of maintaining a relationship with this person, he is rather playing himself, so to speak. And overall, the vocalist appears to be someone who is more free-spirited, as opposed to being the type to endure such discomfort. And maybe, the addressee is such that she thinks that by paying attention to the singer, she is doing him a favor. But he doesn’t want her to feel that way anymore, as he values his ‘freedom’ more than this person’s admiration.

What Bob Moses has said about “Desire”

According to Moses, our never-ending desires can both be source of motivation and burden.

Bob Moses and Zhu

Bob Moses is not an individual but rather a pair of EDM musicians, Jim Vallance and Tom Howie, who operate out of Canada. With this act being extant since 2012 so far they’ve dropped a handful of singles. The biggest hit in their discography is 2022’s “Love Brand New”.

Meanwhile Zhu, who hails from San Francisco, is a soloist. His debut LP, “Generationwhy” (2016), topped Billboard’s Electronic Albums chart. His first single, 2014’s “Faded“, was nominated for a Grammy. 

This is the first time he’s teamed up with Bob Moses. 

Credits for “Desire”

It is Zhu, Vallance and Howie who are individually credited with writing and producing “Desire”. In addition to co-writing “Desire”, Zhu also contributes backing vocals to it.

The animated music video to this track is an interactive affair, as assembled by director Owen Brown.

When was “Desire” released?

This track, which broke the top 40 of Billboard’s Electronic Songs ranking, was released on 15 July 2020. It originally featured on a Bob Moses EP which itself is titled “Desire”. It also went on to make an appearance on the deluxe version of Zhu’s 2021 album “Dreamland”.

Appearance on “The Sandman”

This electro pop track was featured on Netflix’s current “The Sandman”. The song was used in an episode titled “Chapter 6: The Sound of Her Wings”.