"Timbuktu: Matty Reynolds' Anthem for the Long-Distance Journey"

Everyone has that song – you know the one – when you’re out on a drive with friends, a significant other, or even just solo, and you can't help but belt it out as you travel to your next destination. Don't have one? Well, TikTok rising star Matty Reynolds' latest single, Timbuktu, might have been your first.

Launching in 2019, Matty Reynolds burst onto the music scene, releasing covers on the popular social media platform TikTok, which, over time, led to a sharp rise in his account following. His first official single, Last September, acquired a great reception from fans, debuting on April 16th, 2021. Just a couple of months later, in August, (another) hotel party was released, and things started to take off. The track sent waves through TikTok, gaining him a sea of new followers and earning him over 12 million streams in just a few years. It was a slam dunk. Since these two hits, Matty had released eight more singles, with Timbuktu being the tenth, so I decided to dive into it.

At its core, Timbuktu is the single thought we all have when the moment arises: What exactly would you do for love? In the case of Matty Reynolds, he would travel the lands at great distances to be with the one he loved. That was what made this song feel so captivating; it was real. Reynolds' laid down all his raw emotions on the line and fused them with folk-rock elements and a modern pop feel; Timbuktu embedded itself in the minds of many.

The journey Matty took listeners on felt both personal and relatable. From the opening notes, it led to an immediate sense of craving that resonated with anyone who had ever felt the ache of separation. The song was built with a deliberate progression – starting with gentle acoustic strumming before expanding into a full, rich soundscape that mirrored the emotional journey of someone willing to cross continents for connection.

Reynolds said, "The reason it means so much to me is because it was written so quickly in the heat of my emotions, without any overthought. I was driving to see my long-distance girlfriend, and the verses naturally came to me, exactly as you hear them today, perfectly describing what it feels like to be so far apart yet always knowing I’ll make that drive a million times over to make it back to her."

Timbuktu isn’t just a potential standout for your next highway adventure – it’s a testament to love's power to collapse distance. I wouldn't be surprised if you reached for the volume dial the next time this track comes on during a long drive. Matty Reynolds has crafted one for the ages.

Reynolds' debut EP, Somebody Like Me, will be released this summer.

Stream Timbuktu now on Spotify