Tom Rosenthal – “How Have You Been?”
October 19, 2025
by ridetothis
Tom Rosenthal’s song “How Have You Been?” actually cares about you a little.
It’s gentle, unhurried, and honest — a track that sounds like it was written for quiet moments when you’re moving but thinking, the kind of ride where the scenery does most of the talking.
Released in 2018 on his album Z-Sides, the song shows Rosenthal’s gift for understatement. Built entirely around his voice, layered softly over itself, it carries a rare intimacy. Each line feels like it’s being sung to one person — someone missed, remembered, or simply wondered about. “I woke up but it didn’t go away,” he sings, describing a familiar ache: when the weight you hoped to leave behind still greets you in the morning. It’s a reflection on memory, emotional fatigue, and the quiet persistence of care.
That sense of gentle persistence runs through the music video too. Directed by stop-motion animator Heather Colbert, the film reimagines the song’s emotional landscape through two hand-crafted characters, Hypnos and Shadow. Drawing inspiration from the mythology of sleep and the Greek god of dreams, Colbert used stop-motion and hand-drawn animation to create a world that feels both magical and deeply human.“I wanted the embrace at the end to be about acceptance and kindness toward all sides of yourself,” she explained in a 2018 interview. The result is a short film about self-compassion — a visual translation of Rosenthal’s empathy in sound.
Even without knowing its backstory, “How Have You Been?” lands as something universal. It’s a check-in disguised as a song — a reminder that care doesn’t always come loudly. That same thoughtfulness continues in Rosenthal’s more recent work, from his podcast Strangers on a Bench, where he interviews everyday people in London parks, to his consistent presence as an independent artist who has built an audience of millions through kindness, humor, and truth.
There’s a calm strength in the way he creates. Listening to “How Have You Been?” while riding — whether through open streets or quiet trails — feels like giving yourself permission to slow down. It’s not about escape. It’s about presence. And that’s what makes Tom Rosenthal’s music endure: it meets you where you are, and somehow, makes that place feel a little lighter.
Credits
Artist: Tom Rosenthal
Track: “How Have You Been”
Album: Z-Sides (2018)
Label: Tinpot Studio, London
Production: Tom Rosenthal
Recorded at: Tinpot Studio, London
Mix & Hardware: Piano, Ukulele, Acoustic Guitar, Minimal Percussion
Director (Music Video): Heather Colbert
Podcast: Strangers on a Bench (2024–2025)
Website: tomrosenthal.co.uk
Fan Art // Mini Music Video
As featured on @ridetothis – “How Have You Been” Fan Art Video
Lovely day for a bike ride! @tomrosenthal1 ‘s music makes it perfect!
if you have other songs or artists that you think are awesome to listen to, while you run, walk, drive, or play, please comment them below so we can consider them for our next highlight.
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