AWIN’s “how can u tell?” Is a Gut Punch of a Love Song — and We’re Not Okay

There are songs that entertain, songs that pass time — and then there are songs like “how can u tell?” by AWIN, which stop you in your tracks and make you feel. Like, ugly-cry-on-your-bathroom-floor kind of feel.

Released quietly but already echoing loudly through the hearts of indie and alt-pop lovers, “how can u tell?” isn’t just a song — it’s a lifeline wrapped in soul-soaked piano, raw lyricism, and the kind of aching honesty that only someone who’s been through it could pull off.

Let’s back up for a sec.

If you don’t know AWIN yet, allow us to make the introduction. Born and raised in Orlando, AWIN is the kind of artist who makes music not for charts or clicks, but for connection. The guy literally wrote, produced, mixed, and mastered his entire catalog in a makeshift closet studio — while crashing on his best friend’s couch. (If that’s not dedication, we don’t know what is).

And despite being fully independent, with no label or major co-sign behind him, his music has racked up over 25 million streams. That’s not hype. That’s people listening and saying, “Finally — someone gets it."

His new song, “how can u tell?”, is the latest example of that emotional alchemy.

Built around a hauntingly beautiful piano progression, the track feels like a slow exhale on a heavy day. AWIN’s voice trembles in the best way — not with technical perfection, but with truth. The lyrics hit like a letter to someone who’s struggling: “I’ll be there the days you don’t wanna be alive”... “Forever by your side”... “I wanna live for you".

It’s not flashy. It’s not formulaic. It’s not pretending to be anything other than what it is: someone holding on to love, in the messiest, most beautiful way.

And maybe that’s what makes AWIN’s music stand out. It doesn’t feel manufactured. It doesn’t feel like a “product.” It feels like you’re hearing someone’s real thoughts at 2AM when they think no one’s listening.

The same vulnerability that made his breakout hit, “my home,” take off — sparking hundreds of thousands of shares across social media — is alive and well here. But this time, there’s an even deeper tenderness. It’s love, yes. But it’s also grief. Hope. Fear. Commitment. All tangled up in one fragile, powerful four-minute song.

We don’t say this lightly: “how can u tell?” is the kind of track that stays with you. Long after it ends, you’ll find pieces of it floating through your head, reminding you to hold on — to love, to the people who matter, to yourself.

And AWIN? He’s not just an artist anymore. He’s a movement. Currently building a collective of like-minded creatives, his mission seems clear: break the rules, stay real, and make music that matters.

“how can u tell?” is streaming everywhere now. But fair warning: this one’s going to hit you right in the chest. In the best way.

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