Moving from a small town to the city to pursue music is a familiar narrative. How many songs have been written about chasing down big city dreams? It’s heartening, it feels sort of universal, and it’s been done a lot.

But what happens when you do the opposite?

Jimmy Hewitt, sole permanent member of lo-fi pop project Lost Film, contemplates that question with today’s debuting single “Assurance”. Pulled from new release The Temporary EP (on NYC-based label The Native Sound), the pared-down guitar track explores the feelings that come with breaking away from the city, inspired by Hewitt’s recent move from Boston to Northampton. Evocative of more peaceful surroundings, it’s driven by heart rather than hooks, and takes a quieter, more nuanced approach than the full-band arrangements of previous LP Imago.

“Having only recently moved away from the Boston area to Western Mass, the lyrics deal with me still getting used to being away from the friends and family that I grew up with, and how weird it is trying to make new friends in your late 20’s,” said Hewitt. “I can be kind of a hoarder when it comes to guitar parts in songs and have a hard time getting rid of them sometimes. With ‘Assurance’ I originally had a ton of guitars going on, but was able to take a deep breath and throw out a lot of extra parts that didn’t need to be in there. The ending guitar [and] backbeat part is probably my favorite part of the whole EP. I’ve had that riff for 6 or 7 years and finally found a song to use it in. One song’s trash is another song’s treasure.”

Check the song out below, then download The Temporary EP for free here.