Adam Klobi’s “FICTION” Review: The 2000s Nostalgia Trip You Need

Adam Klobi Just Dropped “FICTION” and It’s a Total Fever Dream

If you’ve been following Adam Klobi since he was just “that guy on TikTok with the guitar,” his new single “FICTION” is going to feel like a massive payoff. Released on January 23, it’s not just another pop song—it’s the sound of an artist finally finding his lane and flooring it.

Moving Past the “TikTok Artist” Label

It’s easy to get stuck in the “viral cover artist” trap, but Klobi is proving he’s got staying power. Signing with Darkroom Records (the house that Billie Eilish built) was a statement, but “FICTION” is the proof.

While his earlier stuff like “RUT” felt like a quiet conversation in a coffee shop, “FICTION” feels like driving with the windows down in 2004. It’s got that specific, nostalgic grit that makes you feel like the main character in a movie that hasn’t been cast yet.

The Vibe: Raw, Real, and Slightly Lo-Fi

Klobi didn’t go for the over-polished, plastic sound we hear so much of lately. Instead, “FICTION” leans into a garage-band aesthetic.

“I wanted this to feel like we just picked up instruments in a basement,” Klobi said recently.

And you can hear it. The track blends that earthy, Noah Kahan-style songwriting with the kind of soaring, indie-rock choruses that belong on a festival main stage. It’s organic, it’s a little messy in the best way, and it feels human.

Why “FICTION” Hits Different

The song tackles that annoying thing our brains do: editing the past. We’ve all been there—looking back at a messy breakup or a rough year and somehow only remembering the highlights. Klobi calls us out on it. He’s exploring the “fiction” we write to make our lives feel a little more poetic than they actually were. It’s a sequel of sorts to his last track, “WE WERE NEVER JUST FRIENDS,” and it hits right in the chest if you’ve ever been a victim of your own nostalgia.

The Quick Hits

  • For fans of: Noah Kahan, early John Mayer, and those mid-2000s coming-of-age soundtracks.

  • The Standout Moment: That transition from the quiet, acoustic verses into the wall of sound in the chorus.

  • Where to listen: Everywhere. It’s already climbing the charts on Spotify and Apple Music.

The bottom line? Adam Klobi isn’t just making “content” anymore; he’s making anthems. “FICTION” is a reminder that even if the memories are fake, the feelings are very real.